- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for March 23, 2008 - March 29, 2008
Total this week: 188
Ecocities of Tomorrow: UK's First Planned Ecovillage Gets Go-Ahead
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.29.08
After having their plans rejected once by British planning institutions, a small group of families has been granted permission to build a small ecovillage in the Welsh countryside. The tiny village, to be called Lammas, is planned to cover a 74 acre site of pasture and woodland.
Planned to be completely independent of national infrastructures, water would be drawn from springs and rooftop rainwater collection. Electricity would come from local, renewable sources such as small-scale ethanol production and an existing water turbine. All houses would be built out of straw bale, earth and timber, with rammed earth floors and hemp fiber insulation, and would include compost bins and composting toilets. ...
Earth Hour in Berlin: Open for Shopping
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03.29.08
While Toronto goes nuts for earth hour, lights go out down under and people and companies around the globe take an hour to remember the earth before electricity, the news in Berlin is: Shopping! Germany well deserves its reputation for significant activism in environmental matters. But the freedom of shopkeepers to sell their wares when customers want to buy them is the political action on the street in Berlin tonight. In a special periodic "Long Night of Shopping", major department stores in the main shopping district in Berlin provide a consumer distraction from thoughts of Earth Hour.
Before you discontinue thinking up great ideas for earth hour to get mad, you should know that Germany held its "Lights Out" (Licht Aus) campaign in December of 2007. In fact, the take-home message from "Lights Out" is one that everyone celebrating Earth Hour should remember....
James Howard Kunstler Spares No One in New "KunstlerCast"
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.29.08
James Howard Kunstler tells it like it is. (Image courtesy of Dean Terry via Flickr.)
Never short on biting critique, James Howard Kunstler is one of the more outrageous commentators on the American built environment. Since authoring the seminal book The Geography of Nowhere, an exploration of the vapidity of American urbanism, Kunstler has spread his message through a variety of media, including his blog, occasional speeches, and now a weekly podcast. Billed as "a weekly conversation about the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl," the KunstlerCast delivers the goods, with inspired rants on a variety of subjects related to American places (and non-places) and the coming peak oil reality.
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Earth Hour: Get Out and Party Like it's 1799!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
The Scene in Christchurch during Earth Hour
What negativity all over the web. "I am hard pressed to believe that this one hour of symbolism will appreciably change anyone’s ongoing habits of energy consumption. " or "I dont like the way this event has been appropriated by those very organisations who are most responsible for causing all the trouble." or writing posts entitled "Why I’m Not Participating In Earth Hour."
Loosen up. Go out and look at the stars. Snuggle with your sweetie. Think, for an hour, about how you might entertain yourselves in a world without electricity; it may be here before you know it. ...
Earth Hour Update: Fiji and Christchurch, NZ
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
Paddlers with torches during earth hour (with a lot of lights on in the background...)...
Californian Utility to Blanket Rooftops with Nation's Largest Solar Collector Cell Installation
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.29.08
Image courtesy of Pink Dispatcher via flickr
Two square miles of Californian rooftops will be blanketed with the country's largest solar installation - a collector cell array that could power the equivalent of about 162,000 homes by 2010 - if Southern California Edison's $875 million bid is approved by state regulators. Governor Schwarzenegger has already endorsed the project, praising it for its potential to "set off a huge wave of renewable energy growth," reports Reuters.
The first sites, on buildings in the Riverside and San Bernardino counties, could be operational as early as August - not a moment too soon for the region's always beleaguered peak load capacity. Company officials estimate that the rooftop photovoltaic arrays will be able to generate close to 250 MW of electricity. ...
Book Swapping Is a Greener Choice for Book Lovers
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.29.08
After pointing out the bizarre, “eco-friendly” claims of businesses trying to rent college books to students via the internet, I recently came across a site which does, in fact, make eco-sense.
It’s not geared specifically towards college books, but it enables book-lovers everywhere to swap theirs with other members of the 2Swap community just by paying the postage to mail out a book from their collection that they no longer need.
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Stupid Bike Lanes
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
More Ideas for Earth Hour
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
Green Daily has made up its own list of things to do for Earth Hour, including:
-Proclaim self-righteously to partner that turning off all the lights for an hour doesn't really accomplish anything and is just a red herring so corporations and governments can distract people from the real issues.
-Go eco-looting.
-Get drunk alone in the dark, like every Saturday.
-Trip over the cat. Curse.
-Huddle in the basement with a shotgun and a case of canned ravioli and pretend it's the apocalypse. ::Green Daily
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Who Killed the Electric Car (Again)?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.29.08
Image courtesy of Osbornb via flickr
It wasn't quite the death-knell for electric vehicles that some had feared - as AutoblogGreen's Sebastian Blanco noted, many had expected the cut to the number of zero-emission vehicles sold to be as much as 90% - but it sure as heck came close. In a unanimous decision, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted Thursday to cut by 70% the number of zero-emission vehicles that automakers would need to sell in the coming years - down to 7,500 between 2012 and 2014 from the 25,000 figure set under previous rules - reports the LAT's Ken Bensinger. ...
The TH Interview: Sam Branson, Environmental Activist
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.29.08
When I recently had the chance to chat by phone with Sam Branson, son of Virgin's Richard Branson, the subject at the top of his mind was his upcoming trip to Ellesmere Island along with folks like Will Steger and Sigrid Ekran as a part of Global Warming 101. An expedition expected to raise awareness among young people about the realities of global warming via unprecedented access to their day-to-day observations of melting ice and a changing world via the internet. So read on to see what he's up to, and how you can follow along.
TreeHugger: What made you decide to get involved with Global Warming 101 and the trip to Ellesmere Island?
Sam Branson: Well, Will Steger invited me on a trip from Clyde River and I enjoyed it and learned a lot about global warming, and he invited me on this trip and I decided to go because of the excitement of looking at Ellesmere in a way not many people have seen it and seeing the effects of global warming on the ice shelf. I think it will be amazing to see and traveling up by dog team as well.
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Lights Go Dark Down Under
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
First shots of Sydney with the lights out, lower picture. Not as big a contrast to the picture above as I would have expected.....
If there is one reason why Toronto went so nutso over Earth Hour, it is due to the unwavering support and continuous promotion by the Toronto Star. The Saturday Star (our big paper of the week, because historically papers did not print on Sunday in Canada) is wall-to-wall Earth Hour, from the food to the entertainment to even the wheels section. They really do deserve congratulations for this incredible effort at increasing awareness of environmental issues. See their extraordinary Earth Hour coverage at ::The Star...
Drought Around The World: Atlanta In Perspective
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.29.08
It's been raining a bit in the US Southeast, adding a few feet of depth to Atlanta Georgia's severely depleted drinking water reservoir, Lake Lanier, and pulling the region out of the very worst drought category. Every little bit helps. But this is no time for Georgians to let their guard down: drought can trigger cultural apocalypse.
On Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, the water picture is very bleak.
Cyprus on Monday ordered emergency water rationing and imports from Greece to cope with a growing shortage exacerbated by a fourth year of drought. The east Mediterranean island faces an unprecedented water crisis which has seen reservoir reserves plunge dangerously low and desalination plants unable to cope with growing demand. On Monday, the island's reservoirs were 10.3 percent full. Rainfall has been minimal since 2003....
Pop Quiz: Serious Silk
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.29.08
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60 Things To Do During Earth Hour
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.08
If you are like me and cannot imagine how you will last an hour without using electricity (can I borrow a OLPC hand-cranked computer anyone?) the Globe and Mail provides sixty suggestions for passing the time, including:
2. Go for a walk and see what the neighbours have switched off.
3. Or turn on all the lights in every room and see how long it takes before someone knocks on your door.
5. One word: Fondue! You get a great meal, no electricity required.
15. Go totally 18th-century and play charades by candlelight.
16. Look for stars in the darker night sky, or moon dance.
23. Prove to yourself that, yes, you can go 60 minutes without updating your Facebook status.
47. Sit in a drumming circle around a candlelit shrine to David Suzuki.
57. Get busy and procreate the next generation of resource-sucking bipeds.
58. Start a pool on whether there will be a baby spike in nine months. ::Globe and Mail
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Google Goes Black For Earth Hour
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03.29.08
Google raised energy awareness to the googleth degree today by changing their home page from white to black in support of the earth hour campaign; their brief statement is well worth reading. While the Googlers still don't think a permanent switch saves energy (a common misconception in a surprisingly complicated issue), the awareness is good enough for us; it's 95 percent of the battle. You Rock. :: Google...
LondonAware08 Is U.K.'s Latest "Green Consumer" Festival
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.29.08
From the Green Festivals to Natural Products Expo West to the Green Living Show, exhibitions and trade shows based around ethical consumerism and green living have certainly been mushrooming in North America. They may also be getting more popular in Europe, with LondonAware08, the latest offering, being billed as “the most comprehensive green consumer event the UK has ever seen”. While the term ‘green consumer’ may always sound a little oxymoronic, we do see the need for events that raise the profile of companies offering cutting edge green products and services. We’re also encouraged to see that speakers from Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Forum for the Future have also been invited – a hopeful sign that this will be about more than just ‘shop till you drop’. More from the show’s website:
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Expandable Dining Table Flexes For Your Pleasure
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.28.08
TreeHugger has seen its fair share of transforming tables, but in our quest for objects that allows us to get more from less, this one offers a new trick. Rather than folding down or folding up (?), this one splits right down the middle, adding surface area and increasing capacity. Two rolling carts slide into either side, offering a spot for storage and serving. When the table is closed, they roll off into the corner and out of the way. Smart.
We aren't sure if the MDF (medium density fiberboard) is adhered with formaldehyde-laden glues -- it often is -- and that wouldn't be good for you and your indoor air quality, but the concept is still solid. Hit the jump to see the table in all its iterations. ::Draernert via ::Trendir...
FULL BLOOM 001: Chevy Volt Nation Video
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 03.28.08
Most Huggable: Earth Hour in Nigh, Learn Your Plastics, Micro Wind Turbines + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 03.28.08
Religious groups are signing up for their own versions of Earth Hour.
This is your brain. This is your brain on diesel exhaust fumes.
Wait, which plastic is which? Get the scoop and never get plastic recycling messed up again.
Help your youngsters eating right and reading well early in life with The Green Eaters.
Get plugged in to the top five micro wind turbines and take another step toward backward-spinning electric meters.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.28.08
:: When was the last time you heard your garden grow?
:: Get directions on how to knit your very own decorative plant-pot cozy.
:: Make shingles and siding out of...beer cans.
:: Learn how to whip up two acne-busting face masks out of kitchen ingredients.
:: Here's a Web site where you can get free technical advice on how to fix your misbehaving electronic device.
:: Find seeds from any vegetable, herb, and flower variety with this nifty search engine.
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Stop Using This Product
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.28.08
Most products we encounter are designed to make us want to use them, to influence our behavior in a way that involves using it more. These aren't all bad -- things like fuel economy feedback are great positive behavior influencers -- but it's not often we see something that is designed to make you stop using it.
Roughly akin to getting handed the keys to an SUV on your way out of An Inconvenient Truth, the cheeky Lung Ashtray might make smokers think twice about what they're putting in their lungs. Would it make you think twice? ::Lung Ashtray via ::Core77
See also: ::Smoking: Environmental and Social Impacts, ::Moms' Second Hand Smoke Exposure Linked to Psych. Problems, and ::Bottled Water Drinkers are the New Smokers...
EPA: Eternally Postpone Action; Nuclear Ghosts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
EPA: Eternally Postpone Action? By again ignoring his staff’s advice and postponing a decision on regulating greenhouse gases, Stephen Johnson, director of the Environmental Protection Agency, continued his apparent one-man campaign to make his office the most vilified agency in the entire Bush administration. ::Wall Street Journal We thought it stood for "Evidence of Pollution is Annoying". See also Bush to Phase Out Environment by 2009
Nuclear Ghosts: On Anniversary, Three Mile Island Still Haunts Industry
As nuclear power races back into the energy agenda, it keeps getting waylaid by old ghosts. Today is the 29th anniversary of the accident at Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, when a partial core meltdown in one of the reactors led to five days of panic and 14 years of expensive clean-up. ::Wall Street Journal see also William McDonough on Nuclear Power and Nuclear Energy - Screwing US Taxpayers Behind The Scenes and answer our survey, Do Nukes have a Place in Our Future?...
Survey: Have You Signed Up For Earth Hour?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
Lots of people are doing it, even in the blasé USA, which should be thoroughly embarrassed that Australia and Canada have ten times the participation rate. It is the one hour statement about climate change, happening Saturday night local time around the world. Even if your city isn't in the program, you can sign up and do it yourself. In America go to Earthhour US; Canadians at wwf/earthhour and the rest of the world should try earthhour.org.. What's keeping you?
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Teva Expands Curbside Collection
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.28.08
Teva's Curbside collection, which we covered when it made its debut last fall, has expanded its offerings to include 10 eye-catchingly innovative styles, including Cerella (above, left), a feminine yet practical ballet flat, and Keagan (above, right), a stylishly rugged sneaker.
While the collection started out as a platform for Teva to experiment with the use of post-consumer materials—such as recycled PET canvas linings and recycled rubber outsoles— the footwear maker will be taking the knowledge it has gleaned from the Curbside kicks and implementing its attributes throughout the Teva line. We'd love to see Teva come up with more vegan-friendly options next, as well as switch to eco-friendly vegetable-tanned leather.
Click below the fold for some designs you may have already seen before, as well as a few you may not have. ::Teva...
CNC Adjustable Rocking Chair Let's You Choose How to Rock
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.28.08
Designer Hongtao Zhou just wants to know one thing: "How do you like to rock?" Thanks to the efficiency of his chosen manufacturing method -- a computer numerically-controlled (CNC) router, which creates (theoretically -- unless you feed it fuzzy facts) perfect cuts every time -- and his smart design, this slick rocking prototype quickly and easily adjusts seat height and "angle of rock" to your rocking preference.
A Ph.D Candidate in Furniture Design and Manufacturing in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, Zhou has done his homework on this prototype; it consists of just six pieces that slide together without adhesives, so you can easily match your rocking style to your mood. Hit the jump to see a handful of rocking adjustments, and cross your fingers that this smart chair will hit mass production soon. ::Hongtao Zhou @ Coroflot via ::Yanko Design
See also: ::Peter Danko's Gotham Rocking Chair, ::One Rock 'N Roll Concept: the Rocking Wheel Chair and ::Gary Weeks Studio: Rocking Rockers...
How to Green Your Funeral
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.28.08
Photo credit: iStockPhoto
What’s the Big Deal?
Worldwide, more than 50,000,000 people pass away each year. Traditional burial and cremation practices can have significant negative environmental impact, but green funerals and eco-burials are one way to lessen the impact. While death can be a difficult subject, keeping ethical beliefs and environmental convictions in mind while tending to end-of-life arrangements can create a meaningful send-off--not to mention a lower-impact one. After all, if you gotta go, why not go green?Sharp Invests $725 Million in 480 MW Thin-Film Solar Plant
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.28.08
Sharp, the biggest maker of solar panels in the world, has just invested 72 billion Yen (~$725 million) into a plant that will make thin film solar cells in Sakai, in the Osaka prefecture. Production of solar panels will start in March of 2010, with an initial annual capacity of 480 megawatts, bringing Sharp's total production to 1 gigawatt.
Sharp claims that by using large-size glass substrates developed in collaboration with Tokyo Electron Ltd they will "dramatically improve production efficiency" and be better able to respond to the extremely fast-growing demand for solar photovoltaic panels. This should help further lower the cost of solar energy. ::Sharp press release See also: ::Sharp Sees Solar Power Costs Halving By 2010, ::Ausra: Solar Power Around the Clock, Enough for 90% of U.S. Grid...
Can Design Make a Difference?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.28.08
This is the question asked by Orange22 Design Lab's Blank Canvas Project, who commissioned some big-time designers to lend their talents and leverage social change. Each designer will create a new edition of Orange22's indoor-outdoor Botanist furniture -- which are all finished with a VOC-free powder coating process -- and Orange22 will match the designers' royalty with a gift to a social cause of their choice.
On the hook for new designs are Karim Rashid, Yves Béhar and a host of other accomplished designers, who are all currently hard at work on their new creations; the altruism-driven designs will be unveiled later this year at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City....
15 Algae Biofuels Startups to Watch
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.28.08
Earth2Tech has a roundup of biofuel startups that are working on turning algae into fuel. We can't yet know what will happen; Some of these companies might become huge in the next few years, or they might be left in the dust by new developments (solar energy below $1/watt and advances in battery or hypercapacitor technology, for example). Only the future will tell, but in the meantime, they are worth keeping an eye on.
The companies are: GreenFuel Technologies, Solazyme, Blue Marble Energy, Inventure Chemical, Solena, Live Fuels, Solix Biofuels, Aurora Biofuels, Aquaflow Binomics, Petro Sun, Bionavitas, Mighty Algae Biofuels, Bodega Algae, Seambiotic and Cellena. For more details, check out: ::15 Algae Startups Bringing Pond Scum to Fuel Tanks...
Honda Confirms Some Details About Its Upcoming Dedicated Hybrid Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.28.08
Honda's New Dedicated Hybrid Car
Unlike some companies, Honda has been keeping a tight lid on the development of its new dedicated hybrid car (meaning that like the Toyota Prius, there won't be a non-hybrid version). Even U.S. Honda engineers haven't yet seen what it will look like, and it is supposed to be on the market next year. But the company certainly can't be accused of trying to lower expectations because it lacks confidence in itself: It expects to sell 200,000 units per year and have hybrids add up to 10% of sales by 2012.
Technical Details
Honda President Takeo Fukui said about the upcoming hybrid: 1) The car will have a global nameplate, 2) the engine will be based on the Civic's, but will use a newly designed motor and engine control unit, making it lighter and more compact, 3) it will be priced below the current Civic Hybrid, 4) it will take its design cues from the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (pictured above) and 5) it will use nickel metal hydride batteries....
Zerofootprint and Earth Hour have teamed up!
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 03.28.08
Earth Hour has teamed up with Zerofootprint to provide two carbon calculators that enable Earth Hour participants to measure their carbon footprint. Measure yours at http://earthhour.zerofootprint.net/. Or try the Facebook version that will allow you mobilize and challenge your friends. You can also support Earth Hour by logging on to Zerofootprint Toronto and joining the Earth Hour group....
No More Stubbed Toes with Footlume
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
It's an electroluminescent that glows when you step on it. "The glow that the rug emits is very soft," says co-inventor Leona Dean, of London South Bank University, who also noted the innovation's party applications, "It can provide ambient mood lighting or flash in time to music as a talking point at a party."
Livescience writes that Dean and another LSBU engineering student Zoe Robson developed the light-up rug, called Footlume, for a college course, and they will exhibit the innovation at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Show in London this month.
Now if they could only hook it up with a piezoelectric generator dancefloor like the one at Amy Winehouse's green dance club. ::Livescience
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Biogasoline: The Greener Alternative to Ethanol?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.28.08
Why bother with corn ethanol - heck, even cellulosic ethanol - when biogasoline will do in a pinch? Wisconsin-based Virent Energy Systems, whose liquid biofuel-powered hydrogen generator we covered a few years back, is collaborating with Royal Dutch Shell on a new venture to develop biogasoline, a hydrocarbon alternative that, unlike ethanol, could take advantage of the existing gas infrastructure.
This new project would be centered around Virent's innovative BioForming technology, which uses a solid-state catalyst to turn plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules suitable for use in standard engines; biogasoline's main advantage would therefore be to eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, blending technologies or new engine designs. To produce ethanol, plant sugars first have to be fermented and then distilled - a lengthier, costlier process....
Quote of the Day: Thandie Newton on Vintage Clothing
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.28.08
It is grotesque how out of control manufacturing has become, and the excess, the pollution that's caused by it.
Vintage [clothing] is not only glorious and stylish, it's also the way forward in terms of recycling. Whenever I go into great vintage stores, I wonder why we ever buy new things."
—British actress Thandie Newton, as quoted by the World Entertainment News Network...
Portable Yurts from Go-Yurt
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
We used to scoff at yurts as being a bit crunchy granola for TreeHugger, but have become quite fond of them after seeing how light a footprint they have, and how comfortable they can be. While the Mongolians developed the yurt as a form of mobile housing, most we have seen are have been permanently installed.
Howie Oakes spent years developing a truly portable yurt, and his own words explain it better than I could:
"I have been interested in nomadic homes for a long time, and became fascinated with the yurt after weathering a number of Burning Man dust storms in a small yurt that a friend built. I started looking into what was available, and saw that the typical western yurt had moved well beyond its roots as a truly nomadic home. I think that these yurts do indeed make excellent low impact housing, but I wanted a yurt that my family could easily transport and setup wherever we went."
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Yale Professor Democratizes Climate-Action Cost Models
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.28.08
With climate change likely to be an important issue for independent voters in the coming US Presidential elections, we are glad to see that Robert Repetto, an economics professor at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, has created a website where the several available macro-economic impact models are compared and major 'assumptions' tested.
Professor Repetto offers a bottom line: “As Congress prepares to debate new legislation to address the threat of climate change, opponents claim that the costs of adopting the leading proposals would be ruinous to the U.S. economy,” he said. “The world’s leading economists who have studied the issue say that’s wrong. And you can find out for yourself.”He has done something marvelous and new with his website design, some aspects of which might easily escape our first attention. ...
Only in America: The "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
No, this isn't one of our Onion parodies, it's real. Minnesota Representative Michelle Bachman, whose politics have been described as "Everyone will have a gun, nobody will have an abortion, no one will pay taxes, everyone will go to church, and there won't be any more pinko liberal teachers in school." has become surprisingly pro-choice when it comes to light bulbs. She has introduced the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act" to stop the phase-out of incandescent bulbs.
"This is an issue of science over fads and fashions," she told an interviewer, and called any human connection to global warming "voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax." She continued: "Fluorescent bulbs are more polluting because of their mercury content. We are working on a light bulb bill. If the Democrats can hose up a light bulb, don't trust them with the country."
Julia Bovey of the Natural Resources Defense Council pointed out that "There is 200 times more mercury in each filling in Congresswoman Bachmann's teeth than there is in a compact fluorescent light bulb." ::Star Tribune via ::Wonkette
Find out why We Love our Gorebulbs!...
Earth Hour Roundup
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
Building-in Earth Hour, 24 hours a day "The objectives of Earth Hour are laudable but, this being the industrialized world bent on tokenism and protecting modern conveniences at all costs, don't be surprised to see a lot of people switch lights off for an hour on Saturday night and just assume they've done their part. The real question we ought to consider head-on as we float through this year's Earth Hour is: What am I doing about climate change for the other 364 days and 23 hours of the year? ::Globe and Mail
One hour can help switch fate of Earth "At 8 p.m. Saturday citizens of Atlanta will join millions of people around the world in turning off nonessential lights for one hour. Earth Hour is a bold statement in support of action on climate change. On this historic evening, the city of Atlanta will demonstrate to the world how, by working together, each of us can begin to make a positive impact on this global issue." ::Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Earth Hour turns spotlight on emissions "Earth Hour may see people switch off their lights for just one hour on Saturday night, but organisers believe the environmental message will be everlasting." ::Sydney Morning Herald
See TreeHugger and Planet Green on Earth Hour: Turn Off Your Lights for Earth Hour, , Canada Goes Nutso Over Earth Hour, Tel Aviv's Earth Hour: Cyclists Put the Pedal to the Metal
, Nelly Furtado Says Turn Out The Light for Earth Hour and Knock Your Lights Out for Earth Hour
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Grain is the New Copper
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.28.08
daryl mitchell, flickr
We have covered the issue of copper thefts before, but now that agricultural commodities are getting so valuable, thieves are going after them as well. According to Kevin Libin in the National Post, a Manitoba farmer had his truck stolen, emptied of seed, and returned. "It's somebody that knew what they were doing," the farmer said, adding that he suspects the $10,000 load of seed, the price of which has tripled in 12 months,"probably isn't too far from here."
In Kansas, police began investigating nearly a dozen reports of thieves driving their trucks up to farm bins and siphoning out tens of thousands of dollars worth of wheat. A bushel of spring wheat, which has historically traded between $3 and $7, has spiked as high as $24 in recent weeks.
In California, it's almond rustlers.
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Green Furniture to Be Featured at Armory Show in New York City
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 03.28.08
More than 50,000 art and design fans are congregating in New York City for the Armory Show and will have the opportunity to experience green furniture collections from design houses such as Molo Design, Brave Space, Knu, and Rhubarb Decor. For the second year in a row, Vivavi has designed and furnished the ARTFORUM Public Lounge to give visitors a chance to chill out and recharge in a setting that demonstrates the possibilities for merging great design with environmental responsibility. More than 150 international galleries will be exhibiting new works during the four day event, which is being held on Pier 94 from March 27 to 30. ...
Survey: Do You Green Your Pet?
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 03.28.08
These days, you can buy everything from hemp dog Frisbees to organic catnip to biodegradable pooper scoopers, and the eco-friendly pet product industry is expected to hit nearly $1 billion in sales by next year. You may already know how to green your pet but just how far are you willing to go?
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Solar-Power Boat Supplemented With Pedal-Power
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 03.28.08
We've seen solar-powered boats, and we've also seen bicycle powered supercomputers, lawnmowers, water purifiers and blenders. So wouldn't it make perfect sense to design a boat that has solar panels and enables passengers to power it by pedaling? Alright, perhaps that's not the most obvious use of either technology, but that doesn't mean the concept isn't interesting! And while the design will probably never make it to production (it isn't exactly practical) here's how it would work: "The boat features a center cockpit where up to four passengers can sit, alternating pedaling duties in two-person shifts. When you get tired (which should be after only a few minutes), switching to solar power can help lighten the load."
See a video of the boat after the fold....
Offsets Are Big Business: Climate Care Acquired By JPMorgan
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.28.08
We already know that carbon offsets are not everyone’s cup of tea, but we also know that they are becoming increasingly big business. In a move that indicates just how big we are talking, the UK pioneers of the offset industry, Climate Care, have just announced that they are being acquired by major investment bank JPMorgan. While this move will no doubt further anger those who see offsets as simply a scam for profiting off the climate crisis, founder Mike Mason (who we interviewed here and here) argues that the scope of the problem is such that we need to scale up our efforts considerably if we are to meet the challenge. Just as we felt that TreeHugger’s acquisition by Discovery would help us reach a whole new audience, Mason believes that this deal will help Climate Care grow with the urgency that is required:
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Design Museum Names Brit Insurance Designs of the Year
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.28.08
The Brit Insurance Designs of the Year, an initiative of London's Design Museum and Brit Insurance, is a new design award with a twist. First, a group of international experts drew up a worldwide shortlist of 100 projects in seven different categories. Then a winner was announced in each of the categories, then the overall prize winner. It was a strong field with lots of interesting entrants, and even the "losers" were winners. The overall winner was one of the year's most creative ideas: the One Laptop Per Child computer, created by MIT. This child-sized laptop is inexpensive and energy-efficient, and can be charged by solar power in rural villages. An excellent choice.
The winners in the other categories include the National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, design by Herzog and deMeuron. Dubbed "the bird's nest," it is a 100,000-seat steel structure, which will be an instant landmark on the architectural scene. The winner in furniture is Martino Gamper's 100 chairs in 100 days project. This was his idea to create a chair per day for 100 days, made out of discarded, recycled, and donated bits of chairs. Penguin Classic Books were the winner in graphics for their excellent, quality graphics for a new deluxe edition. The fashion winner was Hussein Chalayan's dress consisting of crystals and 15,600 LED's flickering with light. ...
In Tel Aviv, Earth Hour Cyclists Put the Pedal to the Metal
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 03.28.08
Amy Winehouse Could Open Sustainable Dance Club in Rotterdam
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 03.28.08
Photo courtesy V. Gable on flickr
British tabloids are abuzz with news that Amy Winehouse has been invited to open a new Rotterdam dance club in September for the tidy sum of 350,000 British pounds (about $700,000).
The club, to be called Watt, is trying for a green remodel of a big, old Rotterdam dance and band venue called Nighttown. The backers of Watt have been pretty reticent about the exact details of how sustainable their dance club will actually be - instead letting the media rumors run rampant, but they have promised on the web site an energy-absorbing dance floor that will use the heat and motion of the gyrating masses to power LED lights, that the club's toilets will use rainwater for flushing, and that the different bars in the 2,000-capacity club will strive for zero waste. Watt owner Aryan Tieleman has said that Winehouse opening the club on September 4 is all but sure, though Winehouse has a bit of a history of gig no-shows. Thanks to tipster Ingeborg van Lieshout....
Pop Quiz: Greenhouse Guess
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.28.08
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Adapting To Global Warming: A Half-Baked Idea
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 03.27.08
The Los Angeles Times bumbled a story and a concept yesterday when it covered research by Roger A. Pielke Jr., a Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. LA Times staff writer, Alan Zarembo stated:
"The 'non-skeptic heretic club' [Pielke] says it would be easier and cheaper to adapt than fight climate change."A provocateur in climate mitigation strategy circles, Pielke flatly disagrees with the incorrect interpretation of his statements put forth by the LA Times. A debate quickly emerged between grist's David Roberts and Pielke himself over whether this confusion was intentional or not. Clearly, the obfuscating coverage at the Los Angeles times is regrettable, but we think this is an opportunity to clear up why humanity needs to learn how to both adapt to our environment as well as mitigate and heal the damage to our ecosystems....
How Does Solar Energy Work?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.27.08
Photo credit: Getty Images
For as long as our planet has spun 'round the sun, there's been solar energy cascading down on the earth, and, for a long time -- since the 7th century B.C., when glass was used to magnify it -- humans have been working to harness it. These days, technology is a bit better, providing electricity, heating, lighting, and even flight, but the point is the same: use the sun's warm glowing warming glow for our benefit.
Solar energy vs. solar power: what's the difference?
Often used synonymously with solar energy, solar power is what you've got once the sun's energy has been converted to electricity. This can be done one of two ways: heating a liquid to produce steam and spin a generator, or through photovoltaics (but that's another post). For now, we'll concentrate on how to use the massive and largely untapped potential that exists with solar energy. But first, some basics....
Renting College Books: Greenwash or Green Choice?
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.27.08
For awhile now I’ve been getting these emails from various pr folks asking me to feature this site or that which allows college students to engage in “Book Renting” via the Internet to save money while ostensibly cutting down on the number of books that need to be sold.
Of course fewer books equal more trees, and with college courses constantly in a state of flux it may be reasonable to rent as opposed to purchasing. Especially when some estimates indicate as many as 4 million trees are felled annually to simply create new textbooks.
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Noon Solar Announces Spring 2008 Collection of Bags
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.27.08
Noon Solar gave us a sneak peek of its upcoming spring collection, available online and in stores in April. In addition to the popular Logan satchel (pictured above), which will be making a return in olive-and-brown leather, the solar-bag company will also be releasing two new styles: the Sawyer, a unisex messenger bag in mustard and chocolate, as well as the Oakley, a maroon tote.
Outfitted with flexible solar panels, and made with cloth and vegetable-tanned German leather, Noon Solar's hot-to-trot bags are dyed using the ancient Japanese art of Shibori, a method not unlike tie-dying that results in the textures and patterns you see on the bags. Weighing about 4 ounces, the Li-ion battery pack collects enough juice to power your cell phone and iPod. Meanwhile, women's bags come with a locket filled with compost to remind the wearer that the materials in the bag came from and can return to the earth—once the hardware has been reused or recycled, of course. (Men, apparently, are not deserving of dirt.) ::Noon Solar
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Making the Connection Between Energy Consumption and Global Warming
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.27.08
"The average American uses 11,400 Watts of power continuously. This is the equivalent of burning 114 x100 Watt light bulbs, all the time. The average person globally uses 2,255 Watts of power, or a little less than 23 x100 Watt light bulbs.
What are the consequences of us all using this much power?"
This is just one of the questions asked by Wattzon.org, which recently published a "game plan" to tackle global warming. Noting that the problem has been addressed before (some guy named Al Gore won a Nobel Prize and an Oscar Award for his efforts), they acknowledge it's an old story, but tell it in a new way....
Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.27.08
:: Learn how to make your own Top Ramen noodles.
:: Get a free audiobook until 12 p.m. (ET) tomorrow.
:: A new study shows that kids with stressed-out parents are more likely to get sick. Learn how to keep your cool, naturally.
:: Get some tips for using up what you have in the fridge, and generating less waste.
:: Treat the symptoms of PMS without popping any pills.
:: Find a less-toxic pest-control company.
:: Save money on expensive shaving creams and aftershave lotions by using this kitchen helper.
:: Can your deodorant or antiperspirant give you cancer?
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US Food Industry Helping USDA Craft New Message: 'Vegetarianism Is Better'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.27.08
USDA is kindly helping the meat industry butcher its own public image. As expected, the gun is pointed at the collective foot behind closed doors.
Under pressure from the food industry, the Agriculture Department is considering a proposal not to identify retailers where tainted meat went for sale except in cases of serious health risk, The Associated Press has learned. Had that been the rule in place last month, consumers would not have been told if their supermarkets sold meat from a Southern California slaughterhouse that triggered the biggest beef recall in U.S. history....
Physically Separated Bike Lanes: Concrete Is Better Than Cops
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
In this picture I took riding home today you can see a sign that says that the lane is for buses, taxis and bikes. You can also see that it is full of cars, trucks and even taxis for a change. What you do not see, nor will you ever see, is the police enforcing the law and clearing the cars and trucks out of the lane. It could be the Dylan rule- "the cops don't need you and man they expect the same" or the Soviet rule- "they pretend to pay us and we pretend to work" but the fact is, the signs and the lines are meaningless if there is no enforcement.
Either put in physically separated barriers that let concrete do the job for the cops, or enforce the law, or just end this farce. See also Physically Separated Bike Lanes and our Survey: Should Bike Lanes Be Separated From Traffic?...
What's Jimmy Carter Got To Do With Algae Bio-Diesel?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.27.08
"Greensters" (green oldsters) won't forget the gas station waiting lines that were routine under the US Presidential Administration of Jimmy Carter. On the plus side, the inconvenience alone led to people buying more efficient vehicles. This, in turn, had a negative feedback loop: Japan, Inc. got to eat Detroit's lunch with a dash of reliability & quality: efficiency was almost a side-dish by the time Motown car designers smelled the coffee.
Turns out, Jimmy's foresight had another plus side that, to this day, shows no sign of a negative feedback loop. Through a $25 million dollar biodiesel research program, his Administration set in motion the creation of an intellectual property bank that is a foundation of today's booming algae-based biodiesel industry. The private sector payback - although many years delayed - is likely to be significant.
Before we go on, I get a lick in. Free market Utopians are wrong. In the story that follows, algae biodiesel startup Solazyme shows us that government work creates value for the private sector. Good for climate change, national security, and adapting to skyrocketing diesel prices, too....
Green Stats: 89,000
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.27.08
89,000 - That's how many terawatts (one terawatt equals 1,000,000,000,000 watts) of solar energy passes through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface at any moment.
370 - The number of terawatts available from wind power.
15 - That's our current energy consumption in terawatts. Almost 6,000 times less than what is available from the sun and wind. That's not even counting ocean power, geothermal and hydro power. And lets not mention the enormous efficiency gains that are possible.
::1366 Technology: Why Solar?...
TH Forum Topic: How Green Is Your Music?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 03.27.08
Most people know that computers and appliances are often rated Energy Star compliant, but how many of us consider our own home audio systems? You might be surprised to know that according to Energy Star "Americans spend more money to power home audio products when turned off than when actually in use." ...
Next Generation of GPS Devices Will Save More Fuel
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.27.08
Traffic jams, apart from being a major cause of lost productivity and frustration, are also a source of pollution and wasted fuel. Idling cars are getting zero miles per gallon. The Economist reports that technology might soon help drivers get where they are going in less time, and thus, burn less fuel.
GPS devices are already seeing rapid adoption, and they are helping, but they alone are not enough: Most use signposted speeds to calculate trip times, don't have real-time traffic data, and don't take into account the changes in traffic flows that occur on different days and at different times of the day (or because of special circumstances, such as accidents, bad weather, etc).
That's about to change! Devices will get real-time traffic movement data from sensors in commercial fleets, buses, road sensors, police, emergency services, and even cell phones. With that information and some clever software, a GPS could find out what the best route is based on current conditions and not just on a static map. Potential fuel savings are huge. Still, nothing beats telecommuting. ::Turn left. No right. I mean left...
Cardboard Houses of the Future
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.27.08
From rocking the cardboard cradle to the cardboard coffin, there isn't much you can't do with cardboard. We've seen green furniture cut from cardboard, some called Bloxes and cardboard lighting and even cars made from the recyclable wunder-material, and have even seen what makes a cardboard house a home. For anyone who thinks cardboard boxes aren't good enough to live in, sink your teeth into this: the Cardboard House of the Future.
TreeHugger Warren first spied it a few years back (it was even more futuristic then), noting that if "it was recycled, the house would save 12 cubic metres of landfill, 39 trees and 30,000 litres of water" -- not too shabby. It isn't as spacious as the Motorola House of the Future or as funky (or full of plastic) as the Monsanto House of the Future, but there is something to be said for an 85% recycled, 100% recyclable house. And you can even buy one today (for $32,204), built it tomorrow and live it in by the weekend....
Turning Big Box Stores into Solar Power Plants in California
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.27.08
It was only last Autumn that we reported that the biggest solar farm in the US would be a 80-megawatt installation by Cleantech America. Now, Southern California Edison (SCE) wants to build something quite a bit larger, a 250-megawatt farm with a twist: It will be distributed among many commercial rooftops, starting with southern California's Inland Empire, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
They are planning to install 1 megawatt per week starting in August. Once the project is finished, it will take up 65,000,000 square feet of roofs that would otherwise be unused and produce enough clean energy to supply about 162,000 homes. The total cost of the project will be about $875 million and is projected to take about five years to complete....
When Disposable Plates are Green
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.27.08
Products like disposable chopsticks, disposable diapers and disposable coffee cups have often drawn TreeHugger's ire for adding more mass to the waste stream, and while compostable tableware and other biodegradable kitchen goods are a step in the right direction, you often need a compost heap to get them to fully break down.
As a solution to this -- a way to cut out the middle man, as it were -- Japanese designer Nobuhiko Arika has created a collection of edible tableware, a set of truly disposable dinnerware that includes a plate, bowl and chopsticks. Made from hardtack, a biscuit dough made from flour, water and salt that has traditionally been used as dry emergency rations at sea, the collection is designed to replace disposable dishware with one twist: you can eat it when you're done....
Stop the Financial Double-Standard for Green Cars
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.27.08
It seems like many people, especially in the big media, are obsessed with whether or not that hybrid/plug in hybrid/electric car/etc will "pay for itself" with fuel savings. The latest example is the (misleading) "The payoff for plug-in hybrids: 95 years?".
Sometimes it is specifically claimed that "car X" will save you money, and it's only natural to examine that claim. We have no problem with that. But the meme seems to have taken a life of its own and now it seems that people think the whole point of green(er) transportation is saving money, and that it's the yardstick to measure all new green cars against. That's plain ridiculous. Since when are cars supposed to pay for themselves anyway?...
Honoring César Chávez
by Greg Haegele, Sierra Club on 03.27.08
March 31 is the birthday of the history-making Latino activist and farm worker César Chávez. Chávez spent decades working to protect both the earth and workers from toxic pesticides.
Chávez, founder of the United Farm Workers, was one of the first leaders to speak out for justice for such workers, a group that had long been without protection or benefits. Thanks to his leadership, the lives of thousands of farm workers were improved and communities made safer....
1366 Technologies is Bringing Solar Power Closer to $1/Watt
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.27.08
1366 Technologies, a company named after the solar constant (there are 1366 watts of solar radiation hitting each square meter of the Earth on average) is working on improving multi-crystalline silicon solar panels. They claim to have found ways to make them about as efficient as single-crystal silicon solar cells, which are more efficient but also more expensive, without losing the cost benefits.
Three different innovations (described below) allowed them to make their prototype 27% more efficient than conventional multi-crystalline silicon solar cells, bringing its total efficiency to 19.5%, about the same as single-crystal silicon solar cells....
Pop Quiz: A World of Wind
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.27.08
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Wayback Machine 1984: The Future of Agriculture
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
How Walt Disney saw The Future World of Agriculture: "Robots tend crops that grow on floating platforms around a sea city of the future. Water from the ocean would evaporate, rise to the base of the platforms (leaving the salt behind), and feed the crops." ::Paleofuture
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Found at One of a Kind: Fidoodle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
photo credit Emma Alter
At the One of a Kind Show, this writer normally goes right by the baby stuff, but even I could not be so humourless and unsentimental to pass Jen Bulthuis' booth for Fidoodle. She "produces artful objects based on stories; some of them, adaptations of classic fairytales and myths, and others, made up."
It is all beautifully designed from FSC-certified birch, organic cotton, recycled fabrics and wool from happy sheep in Steinbach, Manitoba. Available online through her Etsy Store. ::Fidoodle...
Become A Famous Eco-Gadgeteer on Planet Green TV!
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03.27.08
Do you power your blender with a stationary bicycle? Planet Green's television channel is getting ready for its June launch and is looking for viewer-submitted videos that feature green innovations.
- Did you create something cool and eco-conscious?
- Have you formulated a unique way of contributing to the green movement?
- Did you invent something weird and wacky that you’re using in your everyday life to make the world a bit greener?
Ohio Manages Risk of Wildlife Impacts From Wind Turbines: An Update
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.27.08
We're not sure what gives birds and bats more stress: wind turbines or ideological opponents of wind turbines who use irrational avian mortality fears as a political wedge. Letting actual field biologists do some site specific research is generally going to be better for the avians and our politics (which are always local). It's even better if all stakeholders agree up front to a risk management plan based on field experience....
Canada Goes Nutso Over Earth Hour
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
Sydney last year, lights on and off
For some reason the entire country has gone a bit crazy over Earth Hour. Earlier this week more people had signed up for it online in Canada than in the entire United States, with ten times the population. The US has slipped ahead by a few thousand right now, but in Canada one in 606 citizens is on board; in the US it is one in 5,347.
Corporations have jumped on board; the Star notes that McDonalds is turning off every golden arch in the country, saving 10,000 kilowatt-hours, even though in the local right-wing fishwrap, Peter Foster says "Earth Hour is symbolic of a spreading soft fascism, aided by well-meaning individuals and well-meaning and/or cynical and/ or scared corporations."
The Star has devoted an entire special section to the event, including this useful list of what is going on around the world.
See Also: Green Basics: Carbon Footprint, Zerofootprint and Earth Hour Have Teamed Up!, How Solar Energy Works...
Enviu, Innovators in Sustainability
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 03.27.08
It is about time we take a closer look at the organisation behind the Sustainable Dance Club and the Hybrid Tuk Tuk, two brilliant projects, both innovative and sustainable. Enviu is no ordinary company. How could they be if their job is to "scout and generate brilliant (or WOW!) ideas regarding innovative sustainable entrepreneurship." Finding attractive business solutions to an environmental or social problem it the challenge this Rotterdam-based group of entrepreneurs has taken on....
Solar Powered House in Boulder, Colorado
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
Kevin Moloney for The New York Times
Also in the New York Times Business of Green Section: Eric Doub's Solar Harvest, his own solar powered dream house. It has solar panels, 6,000 gallons of underground hot water storage, careful siting for passive solar gain, super-insulated windows and photovoltaic panels. He framed the $8.45 cheque that he got from the local electrical utility for selling power back to the grid.
::New York Times see also the ::slideshow. ...
This Is Your Brain On Mass Customization
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
Alexander Lervik took an MR scan of his own brain, processed it through a 3-D printer, and turned it into a lampshade. Never was the concept of mass-customization demonstrated so graphically. ::Lervik Design via ::Boing Boing
To the inevitable question "Why is this on TreeHugger?" Such technologies will let you order up exactly what you want from the world's best designers and have it made to your specifications right where you are. See In An Absolut World Everything is Downloadable
See more from TreeHugger on mass customization at Green Materials + Mass Customization = Peter Pless's Comp Lounge, Design Democracy Competition: Mass Customization Gets Real , Unto This Last: Micro-Manufacturing Hits the High Street and Made-To-Order Muesli...
Vegan Strip Clubs, Dinosaurs in Ohio, Houses for a Buck
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
The Carrot Some Vegans Deplore"TWO things that you can find a lot of in Portland, Ore., are vegans and strip clubs. Johnny Diablo decided to open a business to combine both." New York Times catches up with the notorious vegan strip club.See TreeHugger's graphic exposé at ::Portland Opens First Vegan Strip Club
Ohio Senate Could Stall Water Deal "...senators, however, are concerned about wording in an area of the compact that describes the lakes and the water of their basins as "held in the public trust." They worry the phrase might affect private property owners rights to groundwater under their properties." ::Port Clinton News Herald Now the right wing nutbars in Ohio are taking a crack at the Great Lakes Compact. Dinosaurs still roam! See also ::Great Lakes Compact: Selfishness and Self-Interest in Wisconsin and ::Bill Richardson On Great Lakes Water
U.S. Cities Face Housing Abandonment Crisis Cities are trying different strategies -- including lawsuits and selling off housing units for $1.00 -- to deal with mass housing abandonment. ::Planetizen So much housing stock, in towns with water, energy and infrastructure, all going to waste. See also ::Making the Rust Belt Work Again, How Long Until The Rust Belt Becomes The Life Belt? :
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Survey: Do You Shop at Big Boxes?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.08
We were blown away by Toby Segaran's animation of the expansion of Wal-Mart; they are everywhere. TreeHugger has written a lot of stories about them, many prefaced by the statement "of course, we don't shop there," but much of North America does shop at it and its competitors.
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German Parliament Building to be Greenest in the World
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 03.27.08
That big glowing dome on Berlin's skyline? Soon it will be even greener. Plans are underway to make the Reichstag, Germany's parliament building, the greenest parliament building in the world. Beginning this summer, the building will run solely on renewable energy. Power will come from water, wind, and solar energy -- instead of biofuel generators currently housed in the basement, coal, and nuclear supplies....
Energy Wasting Day: It's Easy to Make a Difference
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.27.08
TH Blog Love - Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 03.27.08
DH Love Life: Fast by Daryl Hannah
Daryl's latest vlog moves from fast food junk to health food and fasting. She speaks to nutrition expert Annie Jubb about how to detox your colon and takes a trip into the desert for the ultimate health spa experience.
New Scientist Environment: Fred's Footprint-Treasure in the desert by Fred Pearce
"...the world's food supplies are alarmingly dependent on phosphate fertiliser hewn from the desert of Western Sahara. This mining takes place under the gaze of troops from neighbouring Morocco, which took over the country 32 years ago."...
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About...
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.27.08
The end of that tag line is: Fashion (and were afraid to ask). "The A to Z of Eco-Fashion," an article from Ecologist Online is a simple and straight forward guide that every shopper should read and commit to memory before hitting the street, and this month's sales. It starts at A, for "A year in fashion" with the observation that eco-fashion has changed from a trend into a movement because consumers are more concerned than ever. Consumer research shows an unprecedented rise in interest in the provenance of clothing: who makes it, how is it treated and what is the manufacturing process. In fact, over half (23.1 million) of Britain’s shoppers think that ethical production of the clothes they buy is important, according to one study (that's under C for "conscious consumerism").
It gets technical, with the details of junior buyers, lead times and multi-stakeholder ethical trading initiatives and triple bottom lines. By the time you have gotten through hemp, natural dyes, organic cotton, polyester and vegetable tanned leather, you will feel that you can apply for a job in the industry. W is for "Wash Less, Wash Green": buying fewer but better-made clothes and wash at 30°C instead of 40°C, air dry instead of tumble, iron only if necessary and use eco-friendly detergents. It ends with Z for "Zegna", the super expensive Italian brand that has committed its company to become environmentally friendly (pictured: their solar powered jacket). T is for twenty minutes well-spent. ::The Ecologist
For more on eco-friendly fashion, check out our guide on How to Green Your Wardrobe. ...
Now That's a Whole House Surge Protector
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.26.08
If you're haunted by phantom power (and who hasn't been pierced by vampire power?), the Climatised Objects Project has an answer: Standy, the monster surge protector. Since it's always in the middle of the room, the prototype solves the pesky problem of having to duck behind the couch or reach behind the TV to flip the surge protector off. All of your plugs are in plain sight, so pulling them out will be a snap.
As much fun as it might be, though, we think the "Conserve" surge protector, smart power strip or whole house switch might be a better bet. Hit the jump for more pics, and to see a video of what happens when art school filmmaking and monster surge protectors meet. ::MoMA via ::DVICE...
Is Slow Food Movement a Contradiction in Terms?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.26.08
Eataly, a Slow Food-aligned store in Turin, Italy. Photo credit: lonesome_cycler
The March 2008 issue of Metropolis magazine tackles the relationship between "local" and "sustainable" from a variety of angles, giving special treatment to the one relationship that comes most readily to mind when combining local and sustainable: food, specifically slow food and Slow Food International. Bruce Sterling, who has reviewed the Voltaic solar backpack, opined on downloadable designs and predicted the future here on TreeHugger before, authors an editorial on what he calls "the ultimate irony," that the Slow Food movement is now "a global movement to combat globalism."
Ever the cyberpunk, Sterling characterizes Slow Food as the revolutionary anti-McDonalds, a collection of underground networks gone viral, each "taught to infiltrate farms, groceries, heritage tourism, restaurants, commercial consortia, hotel chains, catering companies, product promotion, journalism, and government." And the end result: the commodification of the movement's ideals for the consumption of the world's rich and elite....
Oregon Students to Release 250,000 Ladybugs on Earth Day, Discover Sustainable Pest Control
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.26.08
With folks everywhere gearing up for Earth Day 2008, the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers, a partnership of farmers dedicated to the continuance of sustainable farming practices, is making this Earth Day memorable for a group of 4th graders in Oregon. They’ll be working together with them to release tens of thousands of ladybugs in a bid to help these kids better understand that there are natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.
And while the event was designed to engage local school children with the value of eco-friendly farming practices, I think it’s really a great opportunity for all kinds of learning to take place.
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Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.26.08
:: Banish the early-spring cold by trying this stir-fried noodle dish.
:: Is it lights out for Discovery this Saturday?
:: Teach your child the value of bringing your own bag with this fun board book that comes with a free bag.
:: Disposable diapers or reusable ones? How about going completely diaper-free?
:: Which is greener, orange juice or apple cider?
:: Immortalize your child's doodle in recycled silver.
:: Learn how you can create your own unique stationery by reversing envelopes with attractive inside printing.
:: Save the bees by eating more Häagen-Dazs. No, really!
:: Kelly talks about her experience buying organic food.
:: Learn how you can turn a used soda bottle into an economical bird feeder.
:: Decorate your home like green-lifestyle expert Danny Seo.
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World’s Tallest Man Rides a Bicycle. Do You?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 03.26.08
Squeezing his 2.57 metre (8 feet 5 inches) frame into something like a Smart car might be a bit of a stretch for the world’s tallest man, Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk. And even walking has presented its fair share of problems. The local store doesn’t stock many shoes to fit his 43cm (17-inch) feet, causing him to often go without footwear. Leading to frostbite in winter as he walked to his job as a farm veterinarian, wearing only socks.
But we are pleased to see that he has been made a special bike to help him get around. Now he can move about with less energy than a gazelle, salmon, or an eagle. We assume it also helps with his constant knee pain, caused by his legs having to support his body weight of 200 kilograms (440 pounds). [Instant update! Since starting this post we’ve just discovered he has now been given a car.] ::KeyeTV....
Rip-Tide "Eco Tech" Fabric Made From Hemp, Recycled PET
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.26.08
Dubbed one of the most low-impact yet high-function outerwear material ever created, Livity's Rip-Tide III fabric is a hemp/recycled-PET blend that combines durability with lightweight portability. The British Columbia-based eco-apparel brand has applied Rip-Tide III to a range of products, including hats, jackets, bags, and accessories.
Featuring a ripstop box weave construction that resists tearing, the shell fabric is finished with a waterproof lamination that is low-impact and biodegradable. After all, who needs their clothing to outlive them?
From left, clockwise: The Rip Tide Raven Shell Jacket, which is lined with hemp fur ($148); the Rip Tide Cycle Cap ($36); the Rip Bi-Fold ($18); and the JAH Sport Pack ($56). ::Livity...
Global Warming Melting Glaciers, Shrinking Harvests in China and India
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 03.26.08
Photo credit: lobia
The world is now facing a climate-driven shrinkage of river-based irrigation water supplies. Mountain glaciers in the Himalayas and on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau are melting and could soon deprive the major rivers of India and China of the ice melt needed to sustain them during the dry season. In the Ganges, the Yellow, and the Yangtze river basins, where irrigated agriculture depends heavily on rivers, this loss of dry-season flow will shrink harvests. (Read the full report.)
The world has never faced such a predictably massive threat to food production as that posed by the melting mountain glaciers of Asia. China and India are the world’s leading producers of both wheat and rice -- humanity’s food staples. China’s wheat harvest is nearly double that of the United States, which ranks third after India. With rice, these two countries are far and away the leading producers, together accounting for over half of the world harvest....
Cornstarch Resin Jewelry by EverybodyGreen
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.26.08
Part adornment, part anti-plastic statement, these nickel- and lead-free cornstarch-resin-based bracelets by EverybodyGreen were designed to aid environmental non-profits, as well as raise public consciousness about eco-friendly alternatives.
Strung on organic hemp cord and embellished with a "Go Green" charm made from recycled brass, the bracelets come in coordinating sets of three ($15), in color themes with names such as "berries," "crystal," "ocean," and "dusk." EverybodyGreen will donate 10 percent of each sale to selected organizations such as Oceana, Earth Resource Foundationa, and The Clean Water Fund. (The company's goal is to raise $1 million by the end of 2008.) For old-school shoppers, you can also find the line at retailers such as Nordstrom's, Claire's, and Mandee's.
More pictures below the jump. ::EverybodyGreen...
Extra Extra: CAFE Standards Kill, Moving in with Mom at 52
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
a new feature where we cover breaking news and interesting stories...
CAFE KILLS: Grover Norquist sez the new fuel efficiency standards will kill us all.
"The government itself has calculated that around 2000 people a year are killed because of those CAFÉ standards and our cheerful government has just voted to increase them, to make cars lighter, smaller. And more people will die. I mean 2,000 people a year die because the environmentalists think that you should be in a smaller car because it offends their sensitivities that you’re using gasoline." ::Think Progress see also :: New CAFE Standards? Don't Break Out the Champagne Yet and No Increase in CAFE or the Dog Gets It
Moving back in with Mom and Dad -- at 52 TreeHugger is all for efficient utilization of space, but there is a limit...
"Thanks to the slumping economy, more middle-aged people are taking up residence with their parents to help make ends meet -- some after getting laid off, and others after a divorce. Financial planners are reporting an increased number of calls for advice from parents who are taking in their grown children"::Wall Street Journal That's why we need properly designed multigenerational housing. see ::Cohousing for Aging Boomers and Cohousing for Gen X and Y
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TH Forum Highlights: Alternative Wine Corks, Danger: Men Cooking, Actual LED Experience
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 03.26.08
1) Forum reader Blackbadger is a 32 year old industrial designer whose looking into designing “a type of 'biocomposite' that will combine some type of reclaimed biomass with a totally natural resin or binding agent. Obviously the final product will need to be 100% inert, and not effect the wine in any way at all.” He would like to know, “if anyone here has any experience with eco-friendly resins or glues (for want of a better term), and would be interested in zipping me along a bit of information!”
2) Another reader, CarolinaJim has been informed by his wife that he is cooking. “So, I dusted off the recipe book and decided to cook corned beef and cabbage with carrots and potatoes; seasoned with the packet of spices and a red bay leaf plucked from the tree out back.” However, he wonders, which is greener, open pot or pressure cooker? “So, is using a pressure cooker green? I think so. Cuts down on the energy expended to cook food. Am I right?”
3) Frequent contributor mikebeavis decided to give LED bulbs a try. “I bought one and it came last week in the mail. So far I'm fascinated with it. It's producing about as much light as a 40-45 watt incandescent and it's drawing only 3 watts! Combined with one other CFL, I'm now lighting my basement with only 16 watts! Amazing stuff. If I switched out the CFL for a bigger 5-watt LED I could be lighting it with only 8 watts. Crazy!! “ I’m a big LED fan and user. I’ve cut my total wattage from lights each day more than half. I took the image to the left comparing a halogen with an LED. Which is which? Okay it is a little small to actually tell.
New Film Version of Dune: "its theme of finite ecological resources is particularly timely"
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.26.08
Another film version of the classic sci-fi novel Dune by Frank Hebert is planned, this time with Peter Berg as director. There's an interesting quote in the announcement: "The filmmakers consider [Dune's] theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely." Indeed. Hard not to see the link between Arrakis' spice Melange and the Earth's oil, or even to consider the implications of a world where water is so scarce that drastic measures have to be taken.
Of course, it is just fiction, but like the (attrocious) The Day After Tomorrow, it might indirectly raise ecological awareness with the general public. ::Berg to direct 'Dune' for Paramount, via ::Sentient Developments...
Allco Wants to Turn Former Toxic Waste Dump into Solar Energy Farm
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.26.08
New York-based Allco Renewable Energy wants to build the largest solar energy farm east of the Mississippi river. Their chosen location is in Coventry, Rhode Island, on land that gained infamy in the 1970s as an illegal hazardous waste dump and which became a Superfund site in the 1980s.
At first the solar energy farm would have 8 megawatts of production capacity, but Allco is also considering installing wind turbines if the site is suitable. But there is already some controversy: Allco wants some guarantees that it will be able to sell its power to the local utility for a certain time and at a certain rate, something that is not yet certain....
SustainStyle: Vintage Inspired, Mixed Tapes, Re-Purposed + More
by 1plus1 on 03.26.08
Welcome to SustainStyle, a weekly digest from the writers at 1plus1, a blog dedicated to eco-friendly fashion. SustainStyle runs every Wednesday.
This week at 1plus1 we enjoyed our spring break with KellyB's and Melissa shoes in a poolside installment of DRESS ME. Don't forget the sunscreen!
Our living space was in a serious need of a facelift, so rather than paint our walls a new shade we decided to save time and effort with these wall stickers by Modern Wall Graphics.
At Sodafine we found a beltlace made from jute rope and wooden beads, that works as a belt or a necklace.
Small Axe proved that some things never go out of style, with a vintage-inspired eco line of dresses, blouses and bathing suits. Then Popomomo encouraged us to look into the future with dress shapes so fresh we are not sure if they have a style. And Edun had us going gaga over their new T-shirt dress: it's what we plan to be living in this spring and summer!
The Green Set introduced us to our new favorite "mixed tape" with Design Boom's cassette-wallet hybrids. Staying in recycling mode, Mary Catherine Garrison's handmade notebooks got us thinking about what we could "re-purpose" in our own house.
And Freerice.com kept us amused while we brushed up on our vocabulary and donated rice to people in need.
xo....
This week at 1plus1 we enjoyed our spring break with KellyB's and Melissa shoes in a poolside installment of DRESS ME. Don't forget the sunscreen!
Our living space was in a serious need of a facelift, so rather than paint our walls a new shade we decided to save time and effort with these wall stickers by Modern Wall Graphics.
At Sodafine we found a beltlace made from jute rope and wooden beads, that works as a belt or a necklace.
Small Axe proved that some things never go out of style, with a vintage-inspired eco line of dresses, blouses and bathing suits. Then Popomomo encouraged us to look into the future with dress shapes so fresh we are not sure if they have a style. And Edun had us going gaga over their new T-shirt dress: it's what we plan to be living in this spring and summer!
The Green Set introduced us to our new favorite "mixed tape" with Design Boom's cassette-wallet hybrids. Staying in recycling mode, Mary Catherine Garrison's handmade notebooks got us thinking about what we could "re-purpose" in our own house.
And Freerice.com kept us amused while we brushed up on our vocabulary and donated rice to people in need.
xo....
Get Ready for 15 MPH Speed Limits
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Readers scoffed at the idea of going back to 55 MPH, and were appalled at the suggestion of 30 MPH limits; that is just the beginning. In the UK, the government is promoting the development of eco-towns, is insisting that the town centres be car-free, and that a 15mph limit will be enforced on "key roads" leading into them. Housing Minister Flint says "These developments will be exemplars for the rest of the world, not just the rest of the country. It's critical that we get it right - and I make no apology for setting the bar as high as possible." ::BBC
According to the Guardian, homes can't be built more than 400 metres (1,300 feet) from a bus stop, and every town will have a skateboard park. (I suppose to start kids on alternative transport technologies while they are young.) By capturing rainwater and reusing waste water, eco-towns will also have to be "water-neutral", which means there should be no overall increase in water demand as a result of the development. ::Guardian
Image: Creative Commons Flickr Richardmasoner...
19.9%: New Thin Film Solar Efficiency Record
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.26.08
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has created thin film solar panels that are very close to competing with their more traditional silicon-based cousins. "The copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell recently reached 19.9 percent efficiency in testing at the lab, setting a new world record."
19.9% refers to how much of the sun's light is converted to electricity by the panel. Multicrystalline silicon-based solar cells have shown efficiencies as high as 20.3 percent (without concentrators...), so thin film is very close. Any fraction of a percent makes a big difference over the decades of useful life of a panel. :: NREL Sets Thin Film Record See also: ::Solaria: Finding Clever Ways to Make Cheaper Solar Panels, ::Hairy Solar Panels Could Result From Nanowire Breakthrough, ::Moth Eyes May Hold Secret to Better Solar Panels
Update: If you are interested in solar power, also check out 15 Photovoltaics Solar Power Innovations You Must See....
Dispatches from Butte Ranch: Doug Fine's Bold Experiment in Sustainable Living
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.26.08
Antarctic Ice Chunk 7 Times Bigger than Manhattan Collapses
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.26.08
A 160-square-mile (515 square kilometers) chunk of ice in the Wilkins ice sheet in Western Antarctica has disintegrated. This collapse was predicted, but it is happening quicker than scientists expected. British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan had calculated that it would happen 15 years from now, and he says that it is the result of global warming.
The Wilkins Ice Shelf is a large sheet of permanent floating ice that spans about 5,000 square miles and is located on the southwest Antarctic Peninsula about 1,000 miles south of South America. Since the ice was floating, it won't cause sea levels to rise, but it is a bad sign for the other ice nearby that isn't in the ocean....
Quote of the Day: SUVs Without Wheels
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Scott Olson/Getty Images News
Stan Cox of the land institute points out that we will be paying the price in CO2 for the "mass-produced McMansions bulked up on low-interest steroids" for years to come.
"The long-term effect of titanic houses parallels that of SUVs and pickup trucks. Sales of the biggest and least efficient vehicles might be ebbing, but those that have accumulated over the past decade will be out there by the millions, belching pollutants, for years to come.
And American families will be living in, heating, cooling and powering their current fleet of SUVs without wheels not for years, but for decades.
The economy will eventually shake off its post-bubble hangover and move on to new crises. The bigger challenge will be cutting carbon emissions deeply enough to avert catastrophic climate change. To meet that goal, one thing we will have to do is yank excessive square footage out from the tangle of current housing problems and declare it a luxury whose ecological costs we can no longer afford." ::Common Dreams via ::Archinect...
Strange but True: Sharks as Weather Forecasters
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.26.08
Image courtesy of Jeff Kubina via flickr
Given all the fearmongering about sharks, it may seem hard to believe that these creatures could one day be prized by humans - for their ability to predict storms. Aberdeen University's Lauren Smith, who has spent the last few years studying their lateral line system, or balance system, for her dissertation, believes scientists should monitor their behavior to anticipate bad weather fronts. Hair cells in their lateral line system, which allows sharks to sense slight changes in pressure in the water column, help them orient to water currents and locate potential prey.
Smith is one of the first scientists to test the so-called barometric low-pressure theory. While working at the Bimini Shark Lab in the Bahamas, Smith did several experiments in which she attached sensor and acoustic tags to sharks to simultaneously record their location and variables such as pressure and temperature. ...
New York Times on Green Collar Jobs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Jim Albert, a technician for General Electric, climbing to the top of a wind turbine in Sweetwater, Tex., where the turbines stand as tall as 20-story buildings.
It is appropriate that when every business story is downbeat, the New York Times produced an entire section on the opportunities that await in green careers and business.
"Presidential candidates talk about the promise of “green collar” jobs — an economy with millions of workers installing solar panels, weatherizing homes, brewing biofuels, building hybrid cars and erecting giant wind turbines. Labor unions view these new jobs as replacements for positions lost to overseas manufacturing and outsourcing. Urban groups view training in green jobs as a route out of poverty. And environmentalists say they are crucial to combating climate change." ::New York Times
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Pop Quiz: Model T vs. Modern
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.26.08
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Downloading Designs: generator.x 2.0
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
objects 05-06' surface studies by daniel widrig (laser cut paper)
We are fascinated by downloadable designs, where a world of design can be produced locally. We even did a website about it.. Consequently we are upset to find that we missed an entire exhibition of it, in Berlin last month. Generator.x 2.0: Beyond the screen was "a workshop and exhibition about digital fabrication and generative systems." Designboom calls them "an international collection of artists and architects all working on exploring and exploiting this characteristic through coding processes. through CAD software these designers are able to experiment with forms and the mathematical manipulation of these forms virtually and eventually create physical objects. the objects on show were the physical results of these experiments."...
Great Lakes Compact: Selfishness and Self-Interest in Wisconsin
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Tip O'Neill nailed it when he said "All politics is local;" In Wisconsin, the Great Lakes Compact may crash over Tom Gustafson's second bedroom. He lives right on top of the boundary line of the Great Lakes watershed, what the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel calls "what could become one of the 21st century's most contentious borders - the line that could someday separate those who have access to Great Lakes water from everybody else." Unlike Michigan, which is almost entirely within the watershed, Wisconsin is divided, and people on the wrong side of the line want access to the water, instead of the radium-tainted aquifer that they draw from now.
Read a thorough article about how petty politics and local power plays may skewer the whole thing at the ::Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel...
Wal-Marts Roll Out Across America
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Watch an absolutely mesmerizing video where software developer Toby Segaran plots the opening of every Wal-Mart store since 1962. He even gives you instructions on how to build it yourself. "To create the animation, I generated 30 images for each year starting with 1962. I spread all the Wal-marts that opened that year over the 30 frames. To show the appearance of a Wal-mart, all I had to do was plot a large white dot over the small yellow dot for the appropriate ZIP code." -Just like that! ::Kiwitobes via ::BoingBoing
Charles Fishman, author of the Wal-Mart Effect, was right; even if you have never set foot in a Wal-Mart it affects you every day. ...
Survey- Have You Gone Paperless?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Everyone has been talking about the paperless office for years; even Xerox is trying to cut back on it. There are new scanning and storage technologies, but we still seem to have filing cabinets and boxes and desks covered in paper, and boreal forests are still being reduced to reams.
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Save Our Planet? Really Now.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Dano, Creative Commons, Flickr
You can stay in the worst fleabag motel with dripping taps and electric baseboard heaters, but it will have a "save our planet" sign when all they really care about is saving on their laundry bill.
Yet in fact they work, and can be made to work even better. According to the New York Times, the Journal of Consumer Research examined how often people follow the requests of such cards, and why. It also found that we are sheep. 37.2% of guests “help save the environment” by returning their towels to the rack with the traditional sign. But when the sign said "“75 percent of the guests who stayed in this room had reused their towels" the rate went up to 49.3%.
A good lesson for laying out environmental campaigns. ::New York Times via ::Green Daily...
You Can't Hug It: But You Can Love A Remnant American Chestnut Tree Found In Ohio
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.26.08
The Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has revealed that an 89-foot tall, 5-foot in circumference, American Chestnut tree stands in a marsh near Lake Erie. With an eagles nest.
The tree produces fruit, but the seeds aren't viable because there isn't another tree to pollinate it, .... Natural resources director Sean Logan let it slip last week that the tree exists. He said during a meeting of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission that he was going to visit it later that day....
Xerox Tries To Go Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.26.08
Xerox is a company that, to paraphrase Abba Eban, never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. It owned the Encouraging Birdlife to Control Pests: Another Reason to Eat Organic
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.26.08
Snow White was Really Green
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.26.08
It turns out that Snow White was a role model for saving the forest and Walt Disney was a secret environmentalist, inserting subliminal messages into his cartoons. Who knew? According to a recent book by two Cambridge academics, all those years of watching Jungle Book, the Little Mermaid and Bambi (re-runs on that one) have made generations of children more sympathetic to the natural world. Great! Bambi, from 1942, was noted as being particularly influential--the authors think that many of the first green activists may have learned respect for nature by watching it every Saturday afternoon at the movies....
Paris Mayor Plans Self-Serve Electric Car Pools
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 03.26.08
Photo courtesy David Megginson at flickr
Paris' Velib bike self-serve systems, with 10,000 cycles at 750 locations, seems to be a hit even though it's not free.
So Parisian mayor Bertrand Delanoe (up for re-election) says if re-elected he is planning to both beef up public transport and next year start a similar self-service electric and/or hybrid-electric car system called autolib. Starting with about 2,000 cars and 300 free re-charging stations at various points in the city, the system might reduce car congestion and parking issues but be considered competition with Parisian taxi drivers. Car-sharing subscriber programs already exist in the city, and this service, modeled on a eponymous car sharing program in Lyon, is expected to cost around 250 Euros ($388) each month - cheaper than the total cost of car ownership, says the Mayor's office. Norwegian THINK is preparing a bid for the project. Via ::Wikio (French)...
Human Pedalers to Power Heavy Metal Show During Earth Hour
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 03.26.08
What's a noisy and wild city like Tel Aviv to do with an hour of light's out tomorrow night, during Earth Hour? Why create a heavy metal concert using the energy of 42 human volunteers and some biodiesel of course.
Is this cheating?
"Keep your eyes open and your flashlights near tomorrow night between 8 and 9pm," writes Karen from Green Prophet, "because Tel Aviv will be taking part in Earth Hour."
This will be the first time that Tel Aviv – or any Israeli city – participates in the global movement.
At least 24 cities worldwide will be participating in the event, including Bangkok, Chicago, Dublin, and Sydney (which inaugurated the Earth Hour concept in 2007).
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Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.25.08
:: Want energy-efficient cooking? Try cooking with a crock pot.
:: Find out how you can help end sweatshops and forced child labor.
:: Jessica recently had to take her cat in for dental work. Avoid the literal and proverbial pain of medical intervention by taking care of Fluffy's teeth.
:: You can save fuel, without buying a new car.
:: Learn how you can get your 15 minutes of fame as an eco-gadgeteer on Planet Green TV.
:: Help Britney—yes, that Britney—help the environment.
:: Plasma, LCD, or CRT? Which television is best for the planet?
:: Discover how you can find happiness, without buying a thing....
Bunk Bed Building: Nested Bunk Beds Make Room for Playtime, Sleep 20
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.25.08
Designed as a way to create a living space for 7-8 people in 36 square meters (that's about 387 square feet), the "Nested Bunk Bed" is designed as a flexible solution to a common living situation in South Africa. The design, inspired by the iconic Russian Matroichka dolls that also inspired this cool living concept, won the 36sqm Challenge, as well as a red dot award late last year.
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Pizza Crusts for Pooch
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03.25.08
It’s been awhile since we gave a nod to our furry friends (okay we admit, Duke needed some treats) and we loved Seattle-based Uneek, maker of dog treats, as soon as we first read about them. We learned that each ingredient is human grade and that they don't use soy, corn, wheat or bi-products - major no-no's for dogs. But the more we read, we also found out that their treats are made from 100% organic ingredients, which include flax seed, oregano, tomato sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, apple chips, peanuts, cinnamon and kamut grain. Sounds dee-lish even to us! Each Pizza Crust, Beagle Bite and Nut Roll is made smaller to help with portion control and can be given to almost every dog, no matter if they have allergies, are overweight or highly active. Not only is the company dedicated to providing organic and high quality treats, but the packaging is made from recycled products. Another initiative worth wagging our tails about: each month Uneek chooses a pet charity and donates 25 cents towards it for every bag of Uneek treats sold. Via ::Ecofabulous ::Uneek...
Engage Green Starlight Satchel Made from Recycled Plastic
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.25.08
It's hard to believe that this looker of a satchel is made from recycled PET bottles, and vegan-friendly, to boot. At $38.75, this 9.75x14.5x4.5-inch bag's a steal, as well. You get a front zippered compartment, an inner zippered pocket, along with an organizer division.
Designed by award-winning Brooklyn-based artist Leonor Mendoza, whose work is part of the Art Museum of the Americas permanent collection in Washington D.C., this bag is perfect for a day trip or as an overnighter. ::Delight.com...
Are These Straw Shoes Made For Walking?
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 03.25.08
Ok, these shoes may not be as stylish or elegant as those from the Danish label PJUX that we featured last week, but we love thought provoking concepts and experiments with materials just as much as anything practical or functional. Moco Loco recently highlighted the work of French designer Tete Knecht, whose work they saw at IMM Cologne. ...
Stop Whining About Gas Prices
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
You don't know how good you have it. Look at the taxes everyone else pays, and surprise, the higher the tax, the more efficient on average the cars are. ::Economist...
Bathroom Design Ideas: The 100 Mile Bathroom & Slow Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.25.08
First, it was slow food, the slow food movement and then slow homes and slow design in general. As slow food gained prominence, so too did the "100 mile diet" and local food, so it makes sense that the local focus would make its way to design as well.
Remodelista shows us a great example of the 100 mile bathroom remodel in San Francisco. Mixing vintage and locally manufactured items into their ideas for modern bathroom design, they've come up with a whole new take on bathroom design ideas. Hop across the jump to see some of their bathroom design photos....
The Latest in Shell Phone Technology: How Abalones Could Help Build Self-Healing Gadgets
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.25.08
Image courtesy of scragz via flickr
Abalone shells and batteries would seem to share little in common; indeed, the former is the type of item you'd expect to find on the seafloor or in a marine biologist's lab while the latter is an essential component you'd find in most gadgets. And, were it not for the groundbreaking work of MIT materials scientist Angela Belcher, that distinction would likely have remained in place....
Men Set Grassland on Fire Trying To Blow Up Gophers
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Caddyshack
Sandy: I want you to kill every gophers on the golf course!
Carl Spackler: Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key...
Sandy: Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The *little* *brown*, *furry* *rodents* -!
Carl Spackler: We can do that; we don't even have to have a reason. All right, let's do the same thing, but with gophers -!
Two Calgary men wreaked environmental havoc trying to kill gophers with a Rodenator, a device which pumps propane and oxygen into their holes and then blasts them out. Unfortunately the grass is really dry and flammable, and 160 acres, including several outbuildings were completely torched, with a value of C$200,000 (US$197,000 and falling) ...
Smartlets: The 'Gas Station' of the Future Might Be No Bigger Than a Parkmeter
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.25.08
Plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) are coming, slowly but surely. But how will we recharge them? Many people will be able to plug them at night in their driveway or garage, but others such as apartment dwellers and people who need the extra range during the day will need some new infrastructure.
That's what the problem the Smartlet is trying to solve. Coulomb Technologies will unveil it at the Plug-In Car Show in San Jose, California, this July. We're not sure what they're planning exactly, but we can imagine that people would either be able to pay directly for power, or use smart cars and be billed later. Maybe some cities would even find it profitable to offer free juice as an incentive for more plug-in hybrids and EVs because reduced air pollution would save more money than the cost of the electricity. ::"Smartlets" could charge plug-in vehicles from sidewalk...
Wayback Machine 1968: What Will Life Be Like in 2008?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
The horrible thing that I have to admit is, I actually read that issue as a kid forty years ago, reading Modern Mechanix when not into my Arthur C. Clarke books. And what a fantastic vision it was:
Transportation: "With the U.S. population having soared to 350 million, 2008 transportation is among the most important factors keeping the economy running smoothly. Giant transportation hubs called modemixers are located anywhere from 15 to 50 mi. outside all major urban centers. Tube trains, pushed through bores by compressed air, make the trip between modemixer and central city in 10 to 15 minutes."
Housing: "Dwellings for the most part are assembled from prefabricated modules, which can be attached speedily in the configuration that best suits the homeowner. Once the foundation is laid, attaching the modules to make up a two- or three-bedroom house is a job that doesn’t take more than a day. Such modular homes easily can be expanded to accommodate a growing family. A typical wedding present for the 21st century newlyweds is a fully equipped bedroom, kitchen or living room module."...
China to Build 97 Airports in 12 Years & the Future of Air Travel
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.25.08
According to China's People's Daily, 97 new airports will be built in China in the next 12 years. That will bring the total number to 244 airports by 2020. At the end of 2006, the number was 147, and it is expected that there will be 192 airports by 2010. This means that 82% of Chinese people will live within 100 kilometers of an airport by 2020.
It's not clear exactly what criteria the People's Daily uses to define what types of airports are included in its count, but if we compare apples to apples and look in the CIA factbook, we find that there are 5,143 airports (paved runways) in the USA vs. 403 in China. That helps keep things in perspective......
Mozilla Firefox Goes 'Organic'
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03.25.08
People have this remarkable quality of equating the properties of wildly disparate objects. These are often captured in the aphorism; no man is an island, food is love, green is the new black. Even more remarkable is that a wealth of meaning flows between us when these phrases pop out of our mouths.
In this vein, the Mozilla corporation, creator of the superb Firefox web browser, has declared their software to be 100% organic. No, it's not to be eaten; but in this interview with Paul Kim, Mozilla VP, he explains why the term is relevant. Please, feast your eyes on this, and give us your gut on the matter; can software be organic?
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Come back, Dennis Kucinich! These Guys All Love Coal
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Come back, Dennis Kucinich, all is forgiven and we need you. At least you had a grasp of the true nature of coal and did not pander to anyone about it. Hillary is running off about mountaintop removal and now promising coal plants:
Right away I have been advocating that we fund 10 large scale carbon capture and storage projects that will utilize a range of coal types and power plant types and storage locations because it's imperative that we do everything we can to get to a technology that enables us to use clean coal.And so is Obama:
We could be investing in renewable sources of energy, and in clean coal technology, and creating up to 5 million new green jobs in the bargain, including new clean coal jobs. And we could be doing it all for the cost of less than a year and a half in Iraq.Even Ralph Nader is even looking good these days. Or maybe the Green Party. Via Solveclimate...
Solar Powered Clothing on the Rack Soon
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
A year ago Bonnie modelled a solar powered bikini for us, but it was just a prototype. Now, the Guardian tells us that flexible solar cells will be woven right into our clothing, to charge our iPods and phones.
Dave Pritchard at Fujitsu, told David Smith of the Guardian: 'Within a year it will be possible to design clothing with solar cells on the back or arms, so you can recharge wearable devices.' He said the clothing would be useful on the ski slopes, outdoor holidays and for the emergency services. It would also appeal to the environmentally conscious as a means of reducing power consumption.
Hitachi is also working on flexible solar cells at its UK laboratory in Cambridge. Koichi Tsuzuki, head of research and development in Europe, said a full jacket of solar cells exposed to four hours of daylight could provide battery life for a typical day's use. ::The Guardian
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Tibet: When "Sustainable" Development Goes Awry
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 03.25.08
Though the government’s news black-out has kept information scarce about what’s really happening in Tibet—making it more difficult than usual, for instance, for your correspondent to do research—certain things are clear.
Many, including the Chinese government, have described the unrest as largely politically motivated, a “surprise” attack by the “Dalai clique” and his “splittists.” Some have harped on the issue of religious freedom. But from watching just state television’s depiction of the violence in Lhasa and elsewhere, one sees something else in these ragtag groups of rioters who assembled on the anniversary of a 1959 uprising: sheer anger.
It’s not hard to see where Chinese Tibetans' anger comes from. Consider that as Chinese modernization threatens Tibet's culture and ecology, it is also failing to deliver on its economic promises. The cost of food is soaring, for instance, as wages remain steady. It is a sad twist that rising food prices are a result of the global warming that is melting glaciers on the Tibetan plateau (a connection that Chinese officials admit). It would be wrong to call these environmental protests. But to ignore the impact of Tibet's environmental problems on its fragile political and economic situation would be even worse. ...
Reduce Waste: Lose the Cafeteria Trays
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Daveland
Put down that tray, Snow White; studies at universities have shown that diners think twice about loading up on food when they cannot carry it so easily. This reduces waste, helps the campus bottom line and the students' waistline. According to Inside Higher Ed, “More and more campuses are looking at this from both an environmental perspective and an economic one,” said Varun Avasthi, director of dining services at Colby College, which experiments with trayless policies. “If you’re not wasting as much food you’re not buying as much food.”
At Alfred University, food and beverage waste dropped between 30 and 50 percent, totalling 1,000 pounds of solid waste and 1123 gallons of liquid waste every week.
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Pop Quiz : Budgets Don't Grow On Trees
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.25.08
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Rainforest Action Network on Palm Oil
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
We haven't had a good rant about palm oil for quite a while; our friends at the Palm Oil Truth Foundation have even stopped sending us comments. But the issue has certainly not gone away. The Rainforest Action Network is going after Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge and Cargill, noting that "ADM is deeply involved in the production and marketing of both palm oil and soy. It is also one of the greatest recipients of corporate welfare, which means taxpayers are subsidizing ADM’s role in rainforest destruction. ADM is also the strongest promoter of agrofuels in the United States. and "Cargill is the most powerful agribusiness and commodity trading group in the world. It is involved in producing and marketing palm oil and soy grown on freshly cleared rainforest lands. In 2003, Cargill built an illegal soy port on the Amazon River which doubled deforestation rates in the area."
Their demands:
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Bicycling Under the Influence? Not a Problem in Minnesota!
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 03.25.08
Drysystem by Tau Allows for Ceramic Tile Reuse
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 03.25.08
A new technique for construction caught our eye at Barcelona’s material library Mater (more about that below): Drysystem. Drysystem is a new tile laying system, developed by the Spanish ceramic company TAU, that doesn’t require getting your hands dirty. This new way of putting tiles doesn’t require any kind of adhesive; the pieces simply slot into each other. 45x90 cm tiles can be slotted seamlessly into a polymer base. ...
License To Car Pool
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
The Propaganda Remix Project
Wendy Waters at All About Cities ponders the issue of making car pools work in today's (evidently completely paranoid) society, for those communities without the density or population to support transit. She mashes the latest technologies and comes up with some interesting ideas:
1. With GPS technology, or cel phone triangulation, drivers and passengers could find each other. A licensed passenger would say that they are at a certain intersection and want a ride to a particular place.
2. you could employ the eBay-like system of rating passengers and drivers. Every time a driver offers a ride, the passenger rates him or her — and the passengers are rated by the drivers.
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On the Stands: Dwell's Green Issue
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Dwell is on a roll these days, and the April green issue is no different. They cover houses made from wood (this writer's favourite green building material) including David Adjaye's cedar cube in London, (we seem to be the only site on the net that has not covered it, so here is Inhabitat) There is good coverage of TreeHugger fave Scrapile, (see New Furniture From Scrapile and Scrapile Recycled Wood Stools). Felix Jerusalem's Stroh House makes an appearance, and the Dead White Male of the Month is neither all male or dead, being Robin and Lucinda Day, the UK's answer to Charles and Ray Eames, still cranking out great stuff as they approach a hundred years old. Not yet on line but worth grabbing off the stands. ::Dwell...
Ban Demolition, Especially by Greedy Universities
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Colin McConnell, Toronto Star
In a growing city, one is used to the demolition by neglect practiced by greedy, rapacious developers to get around the rules preserving historic buildings; just ignore them long enough and the roof will fail, the water will get in and they will eventually be good for nothing. This doesn't happen in a University, where the landowners hold their assets in trust for future generations, respect the past and treasure traditions.
Or does it? At Canada's largest University, a row of perfectly charming Victorian houses are about to become another condo site. As Chris Hume says in the Star, "It is an urban tragedy. What's unfolding here is the disturbing spectacle of a city tearing itself apart, destroying itself, killing the very things that give it its character and constitute its identity....It's time we understood that heritage represents a rare resource, a civic asset, not simply an obstacle on the way to a developer's bottom line. Our willingness to sacrifice our history at every opportunity reveals a worrisome lack of self-confidence and sophistication."
But the University of Toronto doesn't stop there.
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Concerned Teachers Post Reward for School That Solves Great Copy Machine Epidemic
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.25.08
With schools in NY and Florida confirming cases of a strange, contagious disease striking their photocopy machines late last week, and with Grace Hill Elementary School in Rogers, Arkansas confirming a case of that same disease just yesterday, a small group of concerned teachers have pooled their resources to offer a cash reward to the school that can determine it’s cause.
Apparently, symptoms include a propensity to chew up trees at an amazing rate, all while using tremendous amounts of energy in the process which is leading to global warming.
Of course no one is quite sure yet what disease it is, and so the copy crisis team at the Robert Moses Middle School, set up to handle the emergency, is asking schools across America to join them in a national day of action to help stop global warming by putting their copiers under quarantine in a fun, creative way on April 17th. And asking teachers and students not to make or use any photocopies in classes on that day in hopes of ending the crisis.
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Survey: Should Bike Lanes Be Separated From Traffic?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
image: Chris Hardwicke's Velo-city
Our bike-riding readership is a passionate bunch; dodging potholes and cars all day makes them so. They certainly get worked up about bike lanes, the lack thereof, the snow clearing of, the design of. Drivers are none too pleased about cyclists either. Why can't we all just get along in the same space, or should they be physically separated? Our commenters spoke in our recent post on the subject.
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Lady Liberty Dumps the Car and Marries Mass Transit
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.25.08
TerraPass Completes Public Comment Period, Implements Voluntary Carbon Offset Standard
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.25.08
Back in February, we reported that TerraPass had introduced a public comment technique. (See TerraPass Introduces New Carbon Offset Project Selection Method.)
'...similar to what green investment portfolio managers call a "positive screen." Instead of picking investments as a closed business matter, and then taking a drubbing for any faults that may surface, TerrPass is publicly jurying the choices up front. It's not perfect, of course, but certainly a step in a positive direction.'The first public project comment period is now completed and TerraPass is working with the Voluntary Carbon Standard. ...
The Ten Most Beautiful Bridges in the World
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.25.08
Neatorama, a blog featuring weird, crazy and wonderful stuff from around the Web, has compiled a list of their picks for the ten most beautiful bridges in the world. Bridges are part of our common sustainable infrastructure, and, when designed creatively, can fulfill a variety of functions, in addition to getting us from point A to point B.
The Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran (above), was built in the 17th century as an integrated transportation and water management tool, as well as being a stunning architectural achievement and cultural artifact. The bridge, number 10 on Neatorama's list, also functions as a dam, which, when closed, raises the water level of the Zayandeh River, irrigating gardens along its banks.
9. Pont du Gard, southern France.
8. Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy.
7. Iron Bridge, Shropshire, England....
Investing Green In San Diego
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.25.08
Looking for something to do with all of that spare money you’ve got lying around? Well why not invest it in saving the planet? March 11, 2008 heralded the launch of the first regional chapter of the international Eco-Investment Club from San Diego, CA. Their goal: “support the progression of the Green Movement in San Diego by promoting sustainable businesses, providing education, networking and relationship building opportunities, and Eco Investing, which ultimately drives the Green Economy.”...
Integrated Washing Machine-Toilet
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 03.25.08
Take two essential household appliances and stick them together, and what do you get? This entry to the Greener Gadgets Design competition: the Washup washing machine-toilet by Sevin Coskun. With a space-saving design that includes graywater recycling, the wall-mounted Washup stores water used in the washer in the toilet, to be reused for flushing. As the washer is located above the toilet, loading can be completed without awkward back bending. Another plus? The Washup's positive message about graywater recycling, which is usually not so visible. via ::Core77 Also see ::the Greener Gadgets Wrap-up Video ::the Greener Gadgets Design Competition Winners ::Chris Jordan on Greener Gadgets
Image courtesy of Core77...
Citibank Argentina Reduces Paper, Protects Rain Forest
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 03.25.08
Though a trend toward green banking hasn't fully taken yet in Argentina, the local branch of Citibank has launched a campaign to replace paper statements with digital ones in order to reduce unnecessary use of paper. To mark the occasion, the bank has also signed an agreement with the Vida Silvestre foundation to help preserve wildlife reservations in Misiones province, which lies about 1000 kilometers from Buenos Aires....
Zee Babies Will Love Them
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.25.08
Baby clothes have branched out from pink for girls and blue for boys--these baby grows ( called onezees) come in 24 vivid and glorious colours. This is a nice success story of a small Canadian company, Zee Spot, started up by two friends who had young children and found a niche in the market. Discovering that there was very little in the way of organic cotton one-piece baby grows for their daughters, they decided to jump in and try to do something fun, well-designed and environmental plus give something back to the community. Social entrepreneurs in a broad sense of the word. It took them well over a year to find an ethical sweatshop free manufacturer in Chennai, India.
All the Zee Spot onezees are dyed using low-impact, azo-free dyes and the colours range from happy sun, yummy berry to green apple. They use these vibrant colours because of their belief that "every baby looks better in lively color, than potato-sack oatmeal". The cotton is all certified organic. They have a strong social and community ethos and support 1% for the Planet (supporting Indian ecologist and activist Vandana Shiva and her organization Navdanya), 1% for Child Honoring (co-founded by Zee Spot with award-winning children’s songwriter Raffi Cavoukian), Sustainable Websites (a 100% carbon neutral web hosting company) and Planetair (a Montreal-based vendor of high-quality carbon offsets). Sounds good for the planet and good for the kids. :: Zee Spot...
Bye Bye Bottle - Scandic Hotels Turn To The Tap
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 03.25.08
Scandinavia's Scandic Hotel chain wasn't even featured in a recent New York Times review of hip hotels attempting to reduce their eco-impact, yet Scandic has gone far beyond encouraging guests to forgo sheet-washing and towel changing. By switching to renewable energy, sorting all trash and eschewing all individual packaging (both for guests and in operations) the chain managed to reduce CO2 levels 30 percent compared to 1996 baselines.
Scandic now will stop selling bottled water in all of its 141 conference and hotel locales - it reckons it sells 3.6 million .33 liter water bottles each year - and the move will "save" the chain 160 tons of CO2 yearly. That helps with Scandic's goal to halve its CO2 emissions by 2011 and be completely carbon neutral by 2025 - certainly years if not decades ahead of its home countries Norway (2030) and Sweden (2050). Luckily Nordic nations have some of the best tap water in the world. The hotel will offer guests both still and sparkling filtered water at its restaurants. Via ::Newsdesk (Swedish) Photo courtesy shrff14 at flickr...
TH Forum Highlights: LED And CFL's Not Energy Efficient, Solutions for Vampires, Volunteers Wanted
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 03.24.08
1) In the forums reader David Doggett is posting about LED and CFL's possibly not being as green as one might think. "Consider a house in winter...the house has a number of incandescent lights, all turned on, totaling 1000 Watts with an efficiency of 15 lm/W. The question is: How much will the consumer save by converting to LED lights with equal light output but with 150 lm/W efficiency? The answer may surprise you because the answer is ZERO. Why zero? Because the waste heat from those light bulbs goes to heat the house. Installing more electrically efficient lights just transfers the heat load over to the electrical heating system." An interesting thought, considering in one room in our house (office) we have a halogen fixture that keeps the room quite toasty.
2) User SoCalSolar is striking up a discussion of vampire devices (electronics that enter standby mode and never actually turn off - thereby sucking phantom watts of power) saying, "it is even estimated that the stand-by power alone in the USA could power all of Australia! I have a simple idea... not rocket science: Require makers of specified products to have an alternative "off" switch. The "It's really 'OFF' switch". DVD players, home entertainment, mircowaves, ovens, yada yada yada... Since it is not reasonable to expect everyone to go to power strips to turn off their stuff - and frankly it is not always possible to do this easily anyway - perhaps giving the option of full off is a thought." My own $.02, more investment in capacitor technologies.
3) Finally, we are looking for some solid volunteers to help us grow and maintain our forums. We want active members to help moderate or drive conversation. There will be some great schwag and benefits for those who really shine, but most important is continuing to provide a place for discussion and solutions. If you are interested, drop me a line here.
Are There Pesticides Present in Your Child's Urine?
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.24.08
In case parents in your neck of the woods don’t have enough to sit and talk about, a new study indicates that children today often have the family of pesticides known as organophosphates present in their urine and saliva in high concentrations.
Of course the obvious question is, How did they get there? And the answer is through a diet consisting of conventionally grown foods. Fortunately, Chensheng Lu, the principal author of the study and a professor at Emory University can shed some positive light on what happens when you switch your child to all organic foods.
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Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.24.08
:: Have a chickpea-salad sandwich for lunch
:: Mix a "global warming" cocktail for Earth Hour.
:: Why print directions from Mapquest and HopStop when you can send them to your phone?
:: Find out how you can help build an ecotopian society.
:: What's the link between climate change and wine?
:: Learn how to install your own home-scale wind turbine.
:: Discover how vintage kitchen paraphernalia can double up as whimsical yet chic home-office desk accessories....
Osram Claims Warm White Organic LED Breakthrough
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.24.08
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are very promising. They are more Wal-Mart To Monsanto 'No Thanks For The Bovine Growth Hormone'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.24.08
Wal-Mart has tipped the sacred cow. The 'mones won't grow, no mo'. The Globe & Mail lays it down for all to see.Giant food retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced that its store brand milk in the United States will now come exclusively from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. The move sends a powerful signal to food manufacturers about the growing mainstream demand for health food products. With Wal-Mart already the largest retailer of organic milk in the U.S., it has been clear that consumers interested in greener food products are no longer the narrow group of back-to-the-earth types and wealthy urban yuppies....
The Treehugger Hummer: We Don't Have Anything to Do With It
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.24.08
Straight out of bizarro world, the "2REEHGR" Hummer. Last seen in its natural habitat, Los Angeles.
::WhereIsHolden, via ::AutoblogGreen
See also: ::Video: Hummer H2 Off-Road SNAFU, ::Hummer H2 Reaches End of the Road: Will be Terminated, ::GM Kills the Hummer H1...
Hyundai to Mass Produce Hybrids in 2009, Starting with Elantra Hybrid
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.24.08
Hyundai has made about 2,800 compact hybrid cars since 2004, but they haven't been available to the public, only to government agencies in South-Korea. This is about to change: The company has announced that they will begin mass production of hybrids in 2009, starting with their Avante model (known as the Elantra in North-America).
Not too many details are known yet. Apparently, the Elantra hybrid will be powered by LPG at first, and a gasoline version will follow. No word on what kind of hybrid technology, or whether it will be plug-in. Hyundai also plans to "produce a small fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles from 2012." We will keep an eye on this story and update you when we find out more about Hyundai's hybrid-car plans. ::Hyundai Press Release, ::Hyundai says it will mass produce hybrid in 2009, ::Hyundai Unveils New 2006 Accent Hybrid...
Taking Back the Streets: International Pillow Fight Day
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
We have written before that our cities are public space, not just an infrastructure to get you from store to workplace to home but something that has been designed for pleasure, culture and enrichment of our lives. We have posted often about Lori Kufner and Kevin Bracken, who have organized pillow fights and subway parties in Toronto and New York. It has gone worldwide and is now the urban playground movement. This past weekend there were massive pillow fights in 30 cities around the world, from Atlanta to Zurich.
Thousands battled it out in New York's Union Square, shown above. It must have left a big mess; Lori and Kevin tell us that "the general lack of volunteerism means that next year, we are asking people to eliminate their feather pillow usage unless they clean up afterward. Again, please DO NOT bring a feather pillow to next year's pillow fight unless you clean up at least two pillows worth of feathers before you leave."...
Nissan Altima Hybrid as Taxis in New York City
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.24.08
Nissan Altima Hybrid
We've been covering the Nissan Altima hybrid for a while (see the links at the end of this post), and we've also been covering the slow greening of the New York taxi fleet for a long time. So it's good to see both topics converge.
And in this case, it makes perfect sense: the Nissan Altima hybrid is rated at 35 mpg (6.7 l/100 km) in the city, versus 12-15 mpg (15.6-19.6 l/100 km) for most current taxis. According to the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), halving the fuel costs could mean $5000 saved per year. That means that it would take about 1 year to pay back the extra cost of the hybrid drivetrain, and then a $5000 bonus each year after that (and more as oil gets more expensive). There's also savings on maintenance because regenerative braking reduces wear on brake pads....
Physically Separated Bike Lanes
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
Merchandise Mart: World's Biggest Green Building
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
For 78 years, Chicago's Merchandise Mart has been the world's largest commercial building; It is also now LEED-EB (existing building) Silver. According to Business Week, "The effort required overhauling decades-old practices and technology, from replacing most of the Mart's 4,000-plus windows and upgrading rusty motors deep in its subbasements to taking better care of dust mops. The reward: At 78 years of age, the Merchandise Mart is now the biggest green building in the world."...
NASA Satellite Tracks Movement of Pollution from East Asia to North America
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.24.08
Image courtesy of NASA
It turns out our Chinese imports aren't limited to just cheaper goods - pollution accounts for a fairly hefty slice. In fact, that pollution may be equivalent to a not trivial 15% of local emissions in Canada and the U.S. This is but one of the stunning findings of a new study done by NASA scientists looking at the amount of pollution that makes its way to western North America from China every year. These pollutants, which have doubled over the last two decades, consist primarily of aerosols....
Bicycle Traffic School Debuts in Santa Cruz
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 03.24.08
Here at Treehugger we often extoll the virtues of the the bicycle. At the same time, we offer up many tips to ensure that the trips our readers take by bike are both enjoyable and safe. Still, two facts remain: not enough people are riding their bikes, and too many cyclists get injured on the roads. The assumption is that in crashes involving cyclists and motorists, it is usually the motorist's fault. However, at least in Santa Cruz, California, that does not appear to be the case. According to Saskia Lucas, a bicycle commuter and instructor at Santa Cruz's new bike traffic school, "bicyclists are at fault in at least half of all bike vs. vehicle accidents."
The purpose of the traffic school is to allow cyclists that have been ticketed for running through a stop sign or riding at night without lights to "go to traffic school to avoid a hefty fine -- and pick up some safety pointers."...
Victoria E Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03.24.08
This week is Carnival of the Green # 120 and it's being hosted by writer, model, environmentalist, crafter and yogi, Victoria Everman at her blog Victoria E. So head on over to the site to check out a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites.
To learn more about Carnival of the Green, where it will be and how to host (we are now accepting hosts for the second half of 2009!), please click here to link to our previous post....
Found at One of a Kind: Handmade Books by Tanya Deacove
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
photo credit Emma Alter
From the One of a Kind Show:
I was immediately impressed by Tanya Deacove's hand-bound books, all made with recycled papers and fabrics, but was blown away when I learned that she marbles her cover papers herself. I always assumed these marbled papers were printed, but in fact she "floats a water-based pigment on top of water and some seaweed, and drag a comb through, and the random pigments make a design, then you hold your breath, because if you breathe everything moves, it is very delicate, and then you lay the paper down on it, to pick up the pattern." The results are stunning. Tanya calls herself a "technological luddite" so unfortunately she has no website, but she is at lots of shows and sells out of her showroom near Godfrey, Ontario. More on the marbling process at ::Wikipedia...
Found at One of a Kind: Skin Care by Nàdarra
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
photo credit Emma Alter
We love the One of a Kind Show, which started in Toronto but has expanded into the cities of Vancouver, Chicago and New York; it shows thousands of one-of-a-kind handmade items but is carefully curated so that there is not much junk. It also is a springboard for new, local designers and manufacturers.
One product daughter Emma liked was Nàdarra, a skin care products company founded by Julia Michener after a stubborn skin rash wouldn't go away. After a week of treatment with the mix of plant extracts, oils, vitamins and proteins she cooked up it was gone.
It is a good thing that absence labeling is not illegal, because Julia very proudly points out what her stuff does not include:
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German and Algerian Researchers Collaborate Over Large-Scale Solar Thermal Power
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.24.08
Solar thermal really does seem to be enjoying a major renaissance right now – from $1.24 billion plants in Spain, to claims that the technology could provide 90% of US electricy needs around the clock, it’s not hard to see why folks might be interested. Now we hear from Renewable Energy Access that researchers in Germany and Algeria are collaborating to speed up the market introduction of large-scale solar thermal plants that could supply up to 200mw of electricity, while sumltaneously desalinating enough water for 50,000 people:
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Build an Easter Egg Anemometer
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
No doubt all the green living sites will have tips today about how to recycle your plastic easter eggs, instead of asking why you bought them in the first place. Only Instructables would suggest you use them to build an anemometer, which "goes together quickly if you have the parts laying around. This is basically a mini wind generator; the spinning motor produces a current that a multimeter reads." ::Instructables via ::Lifehacker...
Trends We Love: All-You-Can-Eat Ballparks
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
When one lives in a milieu where everyone reads Michael Pollan and shops local and healthy, it is shocking to learn that the local ballpark is introducing an all-you-can-eat section. Mmmm, all the hotdogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos and soft drinks. Unfortunately, beer is extra. The Dodgers, Royals and Cardinals did it last year, and it was a big success. Dietitians are appalled:
"Its disgusting," said Christine Gerbstadt, a registered dietitian and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Why can't people just enjoy the game and eat sensibly?" Author Neal Pollack told USA Today it was "the worst American culture can offer." He says he sat in the Dodgers' section last year and it "was a gluttonous orgy of stupidity." The smell … was unbearable," Pollack recalls. "By the end of the game, it was like sitting in a sewer." ::The Star...
Olympic Torch Lit By Solar Reflector
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
How silly is this. The Olympic torch is going to be carried from Greece to Beijing in a monster relay through Tibet, up and down Mt. Everest, through 21 cities outside China 113 cities in all 31 provinces within China, with who knows how many support vehicles and film crews chasing it, but Survey: Do You Read Books?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
We have discussed alternative ways of delivering the content of books before, including the Kindle, e-books, libraries and online swap systems. But Steve Jobs of Apple says it is all for naught; "It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don't read anymore... The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don't read anymore."
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Big Steps In Building: Make LEED Mandatory for Condos
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.24.08
Peter Gorrie, Enviromental reporter for the Star, writes about what we have been saying for years: 1) purchasers would rather pay for granite counters than energy efficiency, and 2) Developers build as cheaply as possible and don't care about efficiency when it is the purchasers who pay the operating costs. He interviews mechanical contractor Vittorio Zorzit, who installs vertical fan coils that heat and cool apartments.
"There are two versions of the fan. One costs about $100, the other $500. The more expensive consumes only about half as much electricity to do the same job. It has been on the market for 20 years. The developers decide which fan goes in.
The fan coils are a small part of any condo building, but they're a good sign of how the development business has operated, and mainly still does, to the detriment of the environment.
"Nobody was using it because of the cost," Zorzit says. It pays for itself in energy savings within two or three years, but "the developer doesn't care. He's not paying the final (electricity) bill."
The same goes for the large boilers, he says. Most are 70 per cent efficient. Others are better than 80 per cent, but "no one wants to pay the upfront cost," even though, "in a couple of years you save the difference" in reduced natural gas bills." ::The Star
Image: Minto Skyy, one of the 15% of condos that are being built to exceed code standards and go for LEED....
Fortune Magazine Conference: Searching for Gold in Green
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.24.08
Not to be outdone by other Earth Day events, Fortune magazine has organized its own environmental conference, bringing together some of the biggest names in big business. Entitled "Brainstorm: GREEN," and declaring "This year, Earth Day means business," the conference will meet in Californian on April 21 and 22.
From the conference website: This invitation-only event will be an unprecedented gathering of business and environmental leaders, as executives, academics, politicians and NGOs join to discuss the impact of the green movement and explore the opportunities and challenges facing FORTUNE 500 companies, entrepreneurs, government, and the financial world....
Imagine: Another "New Deal" - Greener Than The First
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.24.08
Last year we posted about prospects for a political "New Green Deal" for the USA. It was called "New Deal II: The Next Dam Thing?" A commenter on that post pointed out a vulnerability. He said...Careful what you ask for. You're more likely to get a massive nuclear program than anything else. That's what is likely to look like a plan-at-scale to a bureaucrat.What was the New Deal? Example: if you've ever wondered who built those fine, old hiking trails in US National Parks and National Forests; or, who built erosion controls and planted giant white pine stands on formerly barren soils, it was most likely FDR's "Tree Planting Army", created by the post-Depression New Deal, a Federal program which enabled out-of-work men to do constructive public works. The original 'tree huggers'....
Luma Luxury
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.24.08
These organic cotton bed linens, throws and towels are sooooo yummy looking--it is enough to make you want to throw out, oops recycle, everything that you own now. The fabrics are organic cotton, environmentally-friendly linens and silks, and pure wools, including pashmina, merino and angora. The cotton is grown by rural communities in developing countries.
Luma works very closely with factories in India and Peru that have fair trade practices and with small farming communities, cooperatives, and companies supporting traditional skills. The bedding is luxurious, but reasonably priced. The throws (pictured) are made by a cooperative of women weavers in Northern India and the blankets are hand spun and woven in a valley on the edge of the Himalayas. Each comes with a handmade label showing the name and village of the weaver. The cushions are hand embroidered, using hand-quilted vintage fabrics and hand-woven wild silk and linen. And surprisingly, not that expensive, given their luxurious and fine look. The children’s pillow cases, towels and baby blankets are pure organic cotton and beautifully hand-embroidered with charming details of little bunny rabbits, flowers and birds. :: Luma
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Hélio Mattar on Consume and Corporate Responsibility
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 03.24.08
Hélio Mattar is the president of The Akatu Institute, a prominent Brazilian organization focused in raising awareness about conscious consume. He's also president of the Abrinq Foundation for children's rights and a founder of the Ethos Institute for Business and Social Responsibility; but mostly, he's obviously a very important figure in the field of social and environmental causes in Brazil, and a great thinker of issues within those areas.
In a recent interview with Brazilian website Planeta Sustentavel, he spoke about the change in the perception of consume as a key matter to sustainability and stated some interesting points about the sentimental implicances of changes in consume. "We are going to have to use our human abilities to express complex emotions in order to give meaning to our lives. We have to get out of a society in which people live to consume and become a society that consumes to live", he said.
During the interview, Mattar also referred to corporate responsibility and said he's optimistic about the role companies will have in sustainability once consumers realize the power they have.
Very interesting reading for inspiration. More in the extended.
Via Planeta Sustentavel. Picture: Eletronuclear.com.br....
Biochar Offers Answer for Healthy Soil and Carbon Sequestration
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 03.23.08
Deep, rich, black soil is a farmers dream come true. Healthy soil is full of life, with entire communities living just below our feet. Healthy soil can retain and purify water, provide an abundance of food, and even act as way to sequester carbon dioxide. One key to getting there is amending soil with biochar. Biochar is what you get when biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen through a process called pyrolysis. When incorporated into soil, biochar provides the structural habitat needed for a rich community of micro-organisms to take hold. Incorporating biochar into soil can also act as a way to sequester carbon.
Carbon dioxide sequestration was not likely the original goal of biochar, or terra preta, developed thousands of years ago by the Native Americans in the Amazon region. But today, as we recognize the cost of emitting green house gases, we also recognize the wisdom of using biochar as micro-habitat to improve our soils. Biochar is a classic win-win scenario, a solution that can provide us with a valuable tool for fighting climate change, world hunger, poverty, and energy shortages all at the same time. Sound good? ...
Bush to Phase Out Environment by 2009
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.23.08
Political blogger Andy Borowitz reports on the Bush Administration's latest initiative:
"President George W. Bush confirmed today that his gutting of the Endangered Species Act is part of a broader plan to phase out the environment entirely by the time he leaves office in January of 2009.
“In addition to cutting taxes, it has been the goal of this administration to cut our wasteful, bloated environment,” Mr. Bush said in a speech before the Association of Indiscriminate Applauders in Washington, D.C.
In his speech, Mr. Bush added that the EPA would henceforth be renamed the Environmental Prevention Agency.
The president said that by removing endangered species from the protected list one by one, his administration has been able to phase out the environment gradually “so that hardly anyone will notice it’s missing.”
More about how Bush is phasing out all superfluous organisms and water. “After all, most Iraqis have been without water since 2003 and look how well they’re doing.” ::Borowitz Report Thanks, tipster Penina!
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A Picture is Worth... Access to Drinkable Water Around the World (And Much More)
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.23.08
Images courtesy of Philippe Rekacewicz
Seeing as how yesterday was World Water Day 2008, we thought it'd be appropriate to post on a few visual representations of the state of usable water today. For some perspective, the above image, created by Philippe Rekacewicz with data from the WHO and UNICEF, shows the proportion of the world population with access to drinkable water in 2004....
Placing Bets on Alaska's Ice Melting
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03.23.08
Nature Calendar: Urban Environment Guide
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03.23.08
Nature Calendar announced their launch this week with a worthy goal: "to highlight both the natural resources and species of metro-area ecosystems, starting with New York City, and the work of the dedicated people, both professionals and volunteers, who care for them."
This blog intends to get people in touch with the flora, fauna and beauties of nature right outside their doors in major urban centers. Topics such as the Orion Nebula, wild carrots, tasting tours of public parks and more will inspire people to appreciate the fertility and magnanimity of the planet earth around them.
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Thom Yorke, Amory Lovins and Ken Livingstone on Climate Change
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.23.08
Image credit: National Geographic/Getty Images
"We will soon discover whether this bold evolutionary experiment of combining a large forebrain with opposable thumbs was really a good idea. Over the next decade, our species takes its university finals. Get revising."
So says Amory Lovins in the Guardian-affiliated Observer Magazine’s regular “This Much I Know” column. But this isn’t the only juicy eco-info this week, as the entire magazine is dedicated to a special issue on climate change, guest edited by Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Other highlights include Yorke interviewing Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, about the congestion charge, and his plans to bring a city bike scheme, similar to those seen in Paris, Lyon and Copenhagen, to the capital. Ken also reveals his position on plans for a new runway at Heathrow, in no uncertain terms:
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Quote of the Day: Design and Transport
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.23.08
Christoph writes from Austria on Anarchitecture:
"Sustainable design is not only about energy efficient buildings: Designers should also think about whether they can change people's behavior towards the environment. Can architecture do that? Instead of driving to the office, consider cycling? Reducing the amount of business air travel? The emissions of one passenger on the outward flight from Vienna to Amsterdam creates the climate impact of about 270 kg CO2 (540 kg CO2 including the return trip)- That’s almost a quarter of one year car driving (12000 km, middle class model). But who is willing to give up air travel? We definitely need to find acceptable and comfortable alternatives to our wastefulness!" ::Anarchitecture...
Other Interesting Entries in the Evolo Competition
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.23.08
Christopher Talbot and George Tolosa recover land in the middle of monster highway interchanges in Anaheim, California
While we love Daekwon Park's idea of retrofitting existing skyscrapers the best, the jury in the Evolo skyscraper competition thought otherwise. Their goal is "to create a forum of discussion for the development of new ideas towards excellence in architectural design for the XXI century." Designs must be technologically feasible and environmentally responsible."...
Pop Quiz: The Electricity Gap
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 03.23.08
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Retrofitting our Skyscrapers For Food and Power
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.23.08
Nicolai Ouroussoff writes about all the new glass towers architects are designing in New York these days; they are lovely things, but what will power them or feed their occupants in years to come? Green roofs won't do it, they are too small. Daekwon Park has a great idea, seen in the 2008 Evolo skyscraper competition: a way to reunite the isolated city blocks and insert a multi-layer network of public space, green space and nodes for the city....
Portland's Bike Boxes: Making Cars More Polite
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.23.08
"Wait Here." One of Portland's new bike boxes (Courtesy of www.BikePortland.org).
After recognizing the economic benefits of creating a network of bike paths on city streets, Portland, Oregon has unveiled a new traffic tool designed to ensure cyclists' safety in the city. The bike box is a bright green rectangle painted onto asphalt at intersections and reserved exclusively for bikes. By moving car traffic back several feet from intersections, space is created for bikers at the front of the line, giving them visibility and a measure of priority while waiting at streetlights....
Cows Grazing in the Rumpus Room
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.23.08
Fritz Haeg: Planting edible estates
Alison Arieff writes about reinventing suburbia in her monthly New York Times article, going so far as to discuss razing housing developments for farmland.
O.K., the planet is officially out of (or back in?) alignment: American farmers are making money hand over fist while the hedge fund guys are wishing they’d put a little more cash under the mattress. Corn growers in the United States can no longer keep pace with the staggering global demand for the raw material of corn syrup and ethanol and so, seemingly out of nowhere, there’s a demand for more farmland. That just looks wrong on the page!:: New York Times...
With Diesel at $4 a Gallon, Truckers Are Slowing Down
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 03.23.08
We already know that driving at the speed limit saves gas and reduces CO2. The trick is incentivizing people to actually slow down, a task that's easier said than done. But with the price of diesel fuel hovering at around $4 a gallon, many trucking companies are "crying about the price of fuel." In order to save money, many of those companies are asking their drivers to slow down. The need to cut fuel costs has always been key given that "fuel accounts for about a quarter of carriers' operating costs." But at 4 bucks a gallon, fuel costs are "surpassing labor as the biggest expense for some carriers." Fortunately for the carriers and the climate, slowing down can have a real impact....
Air Force Asks Wall Street Investors For Coal-To-Liquids Money
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.23.08
As Wall Street investment banks collapse, and millions of middle-class citizens walk away from worthless mortgages, the US Air Force is offering "free" development properties to tempt Wall Street bankers to make multi-billion dollar coal-to-liquid plant investments. This: in the face of climate change legislation that will restrict carbon emissions.
Because,,...you know...fuel is expensive. And, no one else suffers from that problem like the Air Force....
Galoshes Good For Viewing Oslo Global Warming Installation
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 03.23.08
"Is there a problem?" asks the ad for a new climate change exhibit in Oslo
The Nordic Museum of Science and Technology has found a great way to teach patrons about the possible coming effects of a changing climate: visitors must borrow and wear bright yellow galoshes to experience the 400-square-meter "underwater" installation called Klima X.
The floor of Klima X is covered with a 10-centimeter deep layer of H2O which will continue to rise a few centimeters over the course of the two-year-long exhibit as two huge blocks of ice sitting on the floor (representing the two poles) melt in real time. Visitors can also use floating boats to wander through exhibit stations that recreate climates in Greenland, China, the Amazon, Nepal and hypothesize some of warming's effects. The Technical Museum is trying to get Norwegians, who have been promised a CO2 neutral society by 2030, to get more interested in finding solutions to emissions reductions, and this week will combine Klima X with a push to get people to make tabulate their emissions and make personal CO2 resolutions through Klimaloftet. Via ::Camino Magasin (Swedish)...
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
- Ecotality Blog
- Ecostore
- Accidental Environmentalist Jolly Green Girl Confidential
- GreenShopper.com - Environmentally Friendly and Green Shopping Community
- Eco Investment Club
- Runaway Now
- Our Greener Life
- Sustainable is Good
- Variety Presents Green Hollywood
- Switchboard
- Architype Review
- Green Fertility
- The Blue Marble Blog
